Home > The War on Terror Explained in Plain English

The War on Terror Explained in Plain English

by Open-Publishing - Thursday 4 August 2005
21 comments

Edito Wars and conflicts Attack-Terrorism Governments

By Carmen Yarrusso

Basic nature

To understand the war on terror, it helps to compare it to the war on drugs. Both “wars” use the same basic scam: implement government policies GUARANTEED to create a problem and then charge gullible taxpayers billions to fight a “war” against the problem (which of course can’t possibly succeed because the problem is perpetually sustained by the government policies).

As long as US government prohibition policies guarantee massive drug profits to millions around the world, the war on drugs will remain an expensive, endless exercise in futility. Similarly, as long as US government foreign policies guarantee massive suffering to millions of Muslims around the world (who have little economic, military or political power) the war on terror will remain an expensive, endless exercise in futility.

Any success eliminating individual terrorists (or drug dealers) merely creates job openings for a long line of eager applicants. If the incentive remains, replacements will line up. In fact, eliminating individual terrorists (or drug dealers) is worse than ineffective. Like natural selection, it tends to weed out the weaker, less ruthless, less efficient in favor of stronger, more ruthless, more efficient replacements.

Sustained by big lies

Aside from politically weak scapegoat “enemies”, both “war” scams require a servile media to spread the lies that fool the gullible masses. The inherently futile war on terror is no more a war against terror than the inherently futile war on drugs is a war against drugs. In fact, both wars absolutely guarantee MORE of what each purports to fight. The real enemies in both wars are living breathing human beings who have been unjustly demonized and marginalized and thus have very little political power to fight back.

Big lies and a servile media are needed to convince the masses that certain people are “criminals” (to be jailed like rapists and murderers) if they claim sovereignty over their own bodies and use drugs less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Similarly, big lies and a servile media are needed to convince the masses that certain people are inherently “evil” and resort to acts of terror because they hate our freedoms or hate our lifestyles—even though they’ve made it perfectly clear (in public statements) it’s US government foreign policies they hate.

Big lies and a servile media are needed to hide the fact that the US government continues its long history of supporting ruthless regimes that oppress millions of politically weak Muslims. Big lies and a servile media are needed to convince the masses that cutting off the heads of innocents with knives and NOT hiding the horror from the public is called “terrorism”, but cutting off the heads of innocents with smart bombs and HIDING the horror from the public is called “spreading democracy”.

Stopping terrorism

The only way to stop terrorism is to expose the “war on terror” as another very dangerous US government “war” scam. The servile mainstream media must be exposed as complicit in this scam and bypassed to get the truth out to the people:

1. Terrorism is a political tactic of desperate people, not an “evil” ideology.

2. The root cause of present day terrorism is US government foreign policies that sustain the violent occupation of Muslim land and the cruel oppression of millions of marginalized Muslims.

3. Stopping terrorism is futile until these unjust US government policies are stopped.

4. Israel is the crux of the problem. US billions and US weapons permit Israel to continue to expand its occupation of Palestinian land and to continue its violent oppression of politically powerless Palestinians.

5. The illegal US invasion of Iraq greatly exacerbates the problem by blatantly validating terrorists’ claims of oppression and violent occupation of Muslim land. This bloody US occupation virtually guarantees Americans and their allies will be targets of violence.
The war on terror escalates violence against people who are already violently protesting the violence against them. This can only further validate and further solidify their cause. Violence breeds violence.

Terrorism is the product of injustice and can only be stopped by stopping the injustice.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?...

Forum posts

  • Clear, concise, cogent. Excellent piece!!!

    • Dear Carmen:
      You have been able to put all my thoughts into writing, unfortunately I think yours as well as my thoughts are wasted on arrogant, ignorant, fat, mindless, useless and ruthless Americans. More Americans know or are more concerned about reality shows and idiotic talk shows, (ie. Mauary Povich- Who my baby daddy) than what heinous, war crimes our government committes in our name. We are all guilty, even those amongst us who despise the Bush administration, for allowing what has happened in Iraq. At least 50% of the country, at least now are aware, that our country was taken into war based on treasonous lies for the sake of a war-profiteering bush dynasty and the neo-cons, whose two main whores are the the multinational corporations and the terrorist state of Israel.
      Yet, why are there no general strikes and shut-downs in this country? Why is there no civil dis- obeidiance? Why has 50% of this once great nation chose to remain silent and suffer in quiet agony. Where are political leaders? Why do they insist on being politically correct when this nation children are dying in someone elses desert not to mention 100,000 + innocent murdered Iraqui men, women and children. Is there no one that will stand up and have courage to call a spade a spade? (Howard Dean tries, but has way to go)
      Till our political leaders stop trying to cover their own asses and protect their bread and butter, and you and I and the other 50% of this country force our political leaders to take action thru civil dis-obeidance, sit-downs and nation wide strikes, we will be guilty of aiding and abetting war-profitering, terrorism, war crimes and murder; in the dock with the Bush regime and the neo-con parasites. Imagine, if the political leaders called for a real commision to find out what went wrong on 9/11/01, why did 140+ Saudis leave the country without CIA, FBI, Homeland Security clearance, who constructed the lies that were spewn out to the American public(ie; yellow cake from Niger, connection between S. Hussein and al queada, mushroom clouds over our cities, nuclear, chemical, biological and mobile weapons, abu gharib, gitmo and valrie plame case).
      Imagine if they gave them notice if no answers within a set time frame, then no bussiness as usual in the capitol, ask the 50% of the population for a general strike, bring the country to a standtill bring the criminals in our government to book. Then see if you don’t get some answers right away. Till then I am afraid we have to hang our heads in shame and continue to write articles and opninons, may be some relief for our conscience but means nothing to those that have lost their lives, or the ones left living that are suffering.

    • HERE HERE MY FIREND
      WHAT YOU SAID IS SO TRUE. I DO HOWEVER THINK MY FRIEND THE REASON YOU ARE NOT SEEING MORE PEOPLE RAISEING HELL IN THE STREETS ABOUT THIS UNJUST WAR IS THAT THE SOME WHAT OVER 50% OF THE STUPID ASSES THAT VOTED FOR BUSH MAY NOT BE SO STUPID AT ALL. I THINK THEY KNOW THAT THAT SAME DAMN ARMY BUSH SENT TO IRAQ TO ATTACK THE PEOPLE OVER THERE HE WOULD BRING THAT SAME ARMY BACK HOME TO ATTACK US HERE IF WE GET TO RASISING TO MUCH HELL. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT?

  • Thank you for this article. As a German I was so moved, because now I know what Hitler fought against: Terror. In fact Hitler had to act preemptively there was these real danger that Poland and Russia would have attacked the homeland.

    (I’m joking of course).

    I’m struck by the similarity of the speech, action and terms this U.S. government is using to excuse the crime of genocide!

    • "War on Militant Islam = World War II, with Bush playing the role of Hitler and Blair playing the role of Tojo." Neat and tidy. Ready for a bumper sticker.

      When Germany needs America, Germany is a strong ally. When America needs Germany, Germany is not a strong ally. In the run-up to the war in Iraq, Germany was so desperate to avoid looking like the junior partner to the US that it became the junior partner to France.

      Now that we’ve all decided that Guantanamo = Auschwitz, we can finally stop feeling bad about Europe dragging the rest of the world into two horrible conflagrations in the past hundred years, right?

      Hey Germany, stop feeding the jihadi crocodile in the hopes that it will eat you last. Take off your blinders and join the fight.

      The US should evacuate all US forces from Germany immediately. 60 years of occupation is enough. Germany places very little value on its NATO treaty obligations.

    • I think the US should remove its troops from EVERY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET

    • This is my fellow American...him and others like him should be moved to Texas and forced to work $6 hr jobs without benefits, just like they want to do to all of us....

      He is ignorant and does not understand that he votes against his own self interest. On behalf of this type of American, I am sorry. We still have the half with intelligence...these bullies caught a lot of people off guard in this country.

      They are waking up, thank God for the world continuing to point this out, believe us the pressure to conform is and was great.

      Soon they will be gone and America will repair damages done....a long, heartbreaking road.

      President Dwight Eisenhower (Nov 8, 1954) once said " Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.

      There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believe you can do these things. Among them are a few other Texas oil millionares, an occassional politician or other businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

      Obviously, he knew them.....

    • I don’t want to force you to do anything. You’re obviously completely ignorant of American conservative/libertarian philosophy—wouldn’t want to expose your narrow, closed mind to any unpleasant realities or diverse opinions, would you?

      Just keep on thinking you’re the smartest guy in the room, though. Hubris isn’t doing your camp much good, judging by recent elections.

      Yes, I vote against my own narrow self interest. I don’t make much money, so of course I should vote for lefties who will require rich Americans to pay for various goodies for me, but I have a moral problem with using the ballot box to steal from my fellow citizens. You should, too, but I guess you don’t. Maybe I’m not as greedy as you are.

    • Then we agree, at least about Germany. Ain’t common ground great?

    • Why did the US "need" Germany? To do battle with Iraq? Why? Every sane person admits that intelligence was faulty regarding Iraq as a threat to the US. Is this just coincidence? Hardly. The intelligence was allowed to be faulty. The argument for invading Iraq was thin. People believed what they wanted to believe. Being against the invasion of Iraq was/is the right stance...but that doesn’t mean every motive was justified.

    • I will vote against my self-interest if it means doing what is right.
      I will not vote to burden others unfairly just because I would benefit.
      If this is ignorant, I gladly stand with the great minds of history who would also be called "ignorant" by the above poster.

    • Yes I agree on Germany its common ground and common sense, assuming of course that you have both feet firmly planted on the ground, and a full understand of past US foreign invasions. American is all you are required to defend !!! "Walking quietly and carrying a big stick" may have worked in the past, but ’Shock and Awe,’ terrorizing others with cruise missles and kicking in the doors of foreigns may look like a video game here but its not perceived that way ’over there’.The US has a monopoly on Terror inflicted on others in Plain English, Spanish,Japanese, German, Vietnamese and of couse Black Africans (slavery) and Native Americans, this is by no means the complete list either. Let get back to Fighting The War On Poverty.

    • I have a problem with the ballot box being rigged to steal from my fellow citizens, and you should too, Mr. Holier-than-thou.

    • Ever heard of a fellow named Prescott Bush? It is reported that he had an ’interesting connection’ to Hitler’s war... might want to check him out...

    • Which planet?

    • A Total Fool, he thinks that letting the rich deprive the middle class and the poor of any benefits from their tax dollars is just fine while their giving themselves huge tax breaks and line up at the public trough for corporate welfare and the kings share of the countries wealth, while the government mafia/Christian Taliban robs him blind of his social security, billions squandered to the Halliburtons, General Dynamics, Raytheons, Lockheed Martins, and every crook politician who is on the bribes and kick-backs list. In the cess pool shark tank that is the government, this poor little jerk thinks it is best for all that he is honest and does not benefit or share in his countries wealth. He thinks that only the rich should prosper at the publics expense.

      The fools like him are the main problem in this country that allows the kind of mafia government we have to thrive and bankrupt the country while lying and waging war for profit....and jerk -offs are more than willing to pay the bill and have all of us chip in. God in heaven please wake up these brain dead Bush supporters.

    • When does Germany need the U.S.A???? Please explain giving specific times and events that Germany needed the assistance of the U.S. Most Germans want the U.S.A. out of their country 60 years is more than enough time for an occupation. The only reason that the U.S. military will not leave Germany is because they have such a nice time there and live high on the hog at the tax payers expense.

      Doing a stint in Germany is like going to paradise for the U.S. military, its the good life they are having there and they are not about to give up the luxury and the nice times they have while sending the suckers back home the bill for it all.

      The morons in this country haven’t got a clue about what their military is up to around the world. They send the reserves to the hot zones and the hell holes. They know these "weekend warriors" have no clout as to where they will be deployed or to what dirty job they will be asked to do, meanwhile the regular army and marines, airforce and navy are stationed in all of the peaceful pleasant parts of Europe and Japan or in the Pacific like Hawaii, Guam, Phillipines, etc. where there is little danger and lots of good fun to be had, but don’t tell that to the little worthless grunts that get sent out to risk their lives and to get stop lossed and redeployed, etc. suckers.

  • you sound like the kind of person that would expect a kid at school who is getting his ass kicked to not fight back because it would be a "violent solution". our "policy" is the promotion democratic and capitolist ideas. there are gangs of bandits throughout the world who want to block those ideas and steal that which does not belong to them. of course it angers them when we stand against that.

    terrorism is a political tactic of desperate people. this is true. the idea that it is not an “evil” ideology is crap. gangsters take advantage of the ideological and rebeliouse attitude of the young and the melodramatic notions of destitute members of muslim society. they are promised paradise if they go out and suicidaly blow up a bus full of "evil" jews or a building full of "oppressive" westerners. isn’t interesting that the reward for such a feat seems to be some sort of heavenly brothel?

    the reason muslim lands are "violently occupied" is because they are EXPORTING terrorism throughout the world. THEY being the gangsters who don’t want to play the democracy game correctly. of course they are being "violently occupied".

    stopping terrorism is deffinately not a futile effort. there will always be crime. there will always be a need for police. there will always be charismaticly ruthless "resistance" leaders who want to steal more pie than they are entitled to. castro was one. hitler was another. bonaparte, hussein, and the beat goes on. bin laden certainly knows it does. he hopes we’ll cowar in the schoolyard so he can beat us bloody while we’re lying face down in the grass. apppearently you think that’s a good way to deal with him and zarkowi and ithers like them.

    psychobabble won’t help you get out of an ass-whipping from a gangster like zarkowi. the only answer is to confront them with their own mortality.

    the notion that the war for iraq is illegal is subjective at best. i say it was perfectly legal. war is not a civilized business anyway. when have you ever heard of a "legal" war?

    the palistinians would not be in the mess they are in if there hadn’t been an attempt to destroy isreal back in 1967. isreal restrains itslef until there is a suicide bombing or some other terrorist attack. they fight back when need be.

    terrorism is the injustice. it will always stalk us. we must always confront it.

  • BUSH, CHENEY AND THAT LOWLIFE RUMSFELD ARE THE REAL TERORIST IN THE WORLD.
    (NOT A STUPID AMERICAN FOOL)
    FLOYD

  • See also: World Tribunal on Iraq : Declaration of the Jury of Conscience

    • just keep in mind that the world tribunal on iraq has no official capacity or authority.