Since this didn't make it into Sunday's paper, I'll post it here because it's something that needs to be said.
The United States government is the largest and most destructive terrorist organization in the world. By its own definition of terrorism, which has been shoved down the throats of citizens for years, the U.S. is guilty of conducting terrorist operations all over the world. The definition of terrorism, reiterated by the second Bush administration in their "change of attitude" campaign, states that anyone who harbors or supports terrorists are just as guilty as the terrorists they support. There was a change of attitude, a violent change, but not of policy. The policy regarding terrorist activity at that time, and still today, has been the same for more than thirty years. I think it is a fair assumption that most considered Saddam Hussein to be a terrorist, and the U.S. supported him during his worst atrocities, the gassing of the Kurds is one example. Thus, by their own definition, the U.S. is guilty of terrorist activity as well as an absence of morality. U.S. policy can be described in this simple observation: If they do it it's terrorism, if we do it it's counter-terrorism. The government has represented terrorism as one giant force that's coming to get us. They have successfully convinced people that military action is the only way to keep them safe. "We have to get them before they get us" claimed George W. Bush in a July, 2003 press conference. The U.S. has military bases in strategic locations across the globe, making sure that everyone stays in line. These bases are not installed to "keep the peace" as many government officials claim, and that claim is accurate in the minds of the majority of American people. Threatening with and using advanced weaponry does not represent peace, it instills fear. Fear is a valuable tool for the suppression of opposition. Another favorite excuse is that military presence brings stability to unstable parts of the world. Bullets and bombs do not bring true stability, they bring war and destruction. When the U.S. government mentions "stability" or "stabilizing an area" the true meaning is that the area is not yet subordinate to U.S. "interests."
The U.S. government has three main interests at heart, money, power, and control. We all know how money and power are obtained. The overwhelming evidence that connects the government to the corporate world is easily visible, and intimidation brings power. Having control is not only about control over global affairs, but it also means control over the population. We're given zombievisions, multi-tasking phones, and are told the news filtered through corporate ideals. As long as we stay on the sidelines and play with our electronic devices, watch t.v. for five hours a night, and take an apathetic point of view we'll see nothing change for the better, it will only get worse.
In conclusion, the U.S. quest for global hegemony has caused death and destruction on a massive scale. Millions have died and countries have been left in ruins in the name of advancing U.S. domination. The "preemptive strike" of U.S. intimidation and criminal military action all over the world is blatant international terrorism.
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