From Ramzy Baroud in his article on Asia Times Online criticizing French President Francois Hollande’s reaction to the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack by stating France must “fight the terrorists over there” (i.e., in Iraq and Syria) to protect the French homeland.
Frivolous wars are like drugs. They may start with the intention of achieving a fleeting sense of ecstasy, but with time they become a lethal escape from reality. Like drugs, a warlord is dependent on war and can only be sustained and validated by it. Hollande is a warlord in the western sense, what Americans refer to as “a war president”.
But as Bush’s notorious legacy has proven, while war-induced fear and vain patriotism may keep a leader in office long enough, the terrible consequences of unchecked violence shall be felt for many years to come.
A few days ago I was reading a piece over at the International Crisis Group, titled “We have always been at war” which was an update on S Sudan. In the article a couple of quotes stuck out.
“This round of fighting represents more continuity than change with past decades and the deep roots are similar to those across the country”.
and
“No one’s territory is stable, civilians are displaced and starving and a return to fighting is all but guaranteed”.
We are always at war. Have we reverted to tribalism more than we realize?
“War Is a Force That Gives us Meaning” is a terrific title for a terrific book. Hedges really delivers a good explanation of how people’s tribal instincts are exploited by warmongers. Chris’ deliveries of these explanations in both historical and personal terms makes his book particularly strong.
From your excellent article …
“The war in Mali had little to do with religious militancy and everything to do with the existing chasm in the country itself,
and the region as a whole. By adding western wars and intervention to the mix, calamity is assured.”
In particular, the Sahel region exploded with arms and militants thanks to NATO military intervention in Libya. In Mali one had the rise of AQIM combined with the Tuareg, Algerian hostage taking at gas plant by … with AQ and of course the Boko Haram idiots slaughtering Muslims and Christian with weapons stolen from Gaddafi’s depots.
The French intervention became a necessity and was useful to protect the nuclear mining industry of Areva in neighboring Niger.
The same old theme that started in Persia [1953], Afghanistan [1979], Kuwait, Bosnia, Iraq [2003], Libya, Syria and Ukraine [2004 and 2014].
Cross-posted from my new diary – John Boehner A Traitor Inviting Bibi to Congress.