The Irony of the Truth

[totally unfinished]

"US realises late that aid to Muslims enhances its image" ............

Who would have thought it, the unpredictability of it all. The US is now attempting to heal relations with the "Muslim world". More accurately though, they are trying to establish a good relationship. And how do they entend on doing this, you may ask. Well, amazingly enough, they have decieded to provide assistance, aid, help. Shocking new tactics I know.

Although the US was at first slow to respond to the humanitarian disaster in south east Asia, after much critisim they have seemingly made a rather large donation in an effort to limit the consequences of the disaster. As The Irish Times pointed out, the US saw an opportunity as they say to enhance their image in the eyes of Muslims. Cynical as it may seem, this is not important. They did it because they knew it would work. Helping people is a good thing. It's baby steps, but the lumbering giant can't be pushed.

This is a new venture for a government that has had tunnel vision when it comes to the "Muslim World". Bush has continuly parroted on about the only way to keep America safe is to bring democracy to Arab countries. The way in which he sees this best acomplished is, military action. Now whatever way you look at this, it boils down to, killing people. Even a four year old can see this will not make one look good.

So what is the objective in going to war in Afganistan and Iraq. Well, imagining that the government line, is the true one. Putting aside the relatively new objective, since the search for WMD has been given up, "to bring freedom to the Iraqi people." The main objective was to disarm a threat to the US and it's allies.

"We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the destruction and to the defeat of the global terror network." -- George W. Bush, 9/20/01

"We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them." -- George W. Bush, 9/20/01

"The primary goal is to make it clear to Saddam that we expect him to be a peaceful neighbour in the region and we expect him not to develop weapons of mass destruction. And if we find him doing so, there will be a consequence."—U.S. President George W. Bush at his first White House news conference; Feb. 22, 2001

"Our cause is just, the security of the nations we serve and the peace of the world. And our mission is clear, to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people." --George W. Bush March 22, 2003 Radio Address

"Our mission -- besides removing the regime that threatened us, besides ending a place where the terrorists could find a friend, besides getting rid of weapons of mass destruction -- our mission has been to bring a humanitarian aid and restore basic services, and put this country, Iraq, on the road to self- government. And we'll stay as long as it takes to complete our mission. And then all our forces are going to leave Iraq and come home"
-made by Bush in Ohio

So now that these wars are fully underway, how many of these objectives have been accomplished? No Bin laden, No terrorists, No WMD. Over 100,000 dead. If this was a business (pretending for a second its not) Bush would have been fired long ago.

With the cost of this "War on Terror" going over the $150 billion mark, one could ask, what sort of "good relations" could this buy in the "Muslim World"?

What's the solution? Well my idea is:
Turn the US army into a massive boy scouts brigade who travel around the world helping old ladies cross roads, plough fields with their tanks, mine coal with their rocket launchers, help fishermen with their nucleur submarines etc etc.................