| Post 9/11 - A Future Undetermined
†
September 2001
Work has been slow and very limited over the last
week, for the worst possible transgressions imaginable. My heart
goes out to those who have suffered loss as a result of the Terrorist
attacks in the US. It is indeed a international, a global tragedy,
a worldwide concern. And in the aftermath the thoughts on what to
do seem as confusing as the act was horrific. All that we can say
is that something does need to be done. Those who believe that peace
will work have no idea of the magnitude of these acts, no idea of
this evil that they face and upon what their own freedom is founded.
I think that New Zealand as a people are one of the worst offenders
in this realm. Sitting back and judging the American public, watching
'Good Morning' and people ringing up. So much anti-American sentiment.
Well now, maybe the Skytower needs to be hit in the same way - some
5000 people die and see where that goes.
American Marines at Iwo Jima crawled over their
own dead so that people today could be free, here in New Zealand.
My fear is that it will have to happen here for many to wake up
their ideas and realise just how real it is. Don't think that our
remoteness is our saviour. We can be targeted, and for many different
reasons. But for the most part those that complain are the same
that said we don't need a military, we don't need Skyhawks.
Its not a nice idea at all that NZ would be invaded
is it? But that same kind of complacent sentiment has also lead
to the degradation of our Defence Forces. Just to put it in perspective,
Indonesia has the 4th largest population on the globe. We fought
them in the 50's and made a very good account of ourselves. Later
that experience stood us in very good stead in Vietnam. The Vietnamese
called us 'Ma Rung' Jungle Ghosts, were they respected us above
all other forces they faced. But we have rested on such prestige
for decades now.
It is very unlikely any here have too much of an
idea how much a role NZ played in certain operations and proposed
operations during the Gulf. Sometimes I think its probably just
as well our country is full of such naivety. At least the population
can sleep at night. And if it ever comes to greet you, numb unbelieving
will be the only feeling you have. We can all live in our nice little
bubble from the rest of the world. Here is a tactical concept for
you - Indonesia has over 1000 tanks . The Aussies have 144. We have
none. In a typical tank battle during WW2 100 tanks would be lost
in a day of fighting. That was then.
In Bosnia you could not walk three blocks down
the road without having a sniper use you as bait. All you want is
to buy some milk for a cup of coffee. Don't take anything for granted.
Imagine that concept, walk outside and walk down the road for three
blocks. Imagine it. No I didn't think you could.
And as for this concept of a massive war against
all Arabs. If done correctly only those targeted are hit. That's
what Special Forces operations are about. Hitting precisely and
decisively against the heart of the cause. Doesn't anyone know Sun
Tsu any more? If I have been taken hostage by some extremist group
somewhere on the planet I'll glad to think that New Zealand SAS
troops have the training they have so when they burst into a room
they hit the terrorist whose own head is inches away from my own.
My own head is not looking like a ripe watermelon. When David Lange
was PM there was the proposal of cutting the budget of the SAS.
He was invited to a demonstration where he was to act as a 'hostage'.
Boys in black pjs jumped in using live ammunition and liberated
him. Funnily enough that budget was not reduced.
With all the PC sentiment these days and no pride
in the NZ military, no support for it, no awareness of the efforts
they put in the likes of Indonesia could just walk in and take us
over without a thought. Thankfully the main reason they don't is
a) Aussie, and b) they're not organised. God help us if they ever
do get organised. And quite frankly there is not a great deal that
Aussie could do either if they did.
Still, I digress. In the end, this act of Terrorism,
even though there are so many in the Middle East, in NI and so on,
it has opened us to a new era. It has shown us that no one is free
from such threats. What the future holds no one knows. The predicament
is a scary one. Yes and the Japanese even had money printed for
NZ. I might take the piss out of the Yanks from time to time, but
even me, at 31, I don't forget history. Complacency is not something
I lean towards. Most kiwis have no idea just how fortunate they
are.
Also folks remember not to judge the greater Arab
/ Moslem population for the actions and attitudes of a few extremist
groups. Judgemental attitudes like this are simply another form
of extremism. I've seen the effects of such extremism first hand
and if I had done this, made gross generalisations, I would have
quite a lot less mates than I do now.
Remember too that it is the willingness of men
and women to travel to foreign countries, enter into physical combat
and risk their lives which allows people to be pacifists, go on
public marches of protest, to strike or take industrial action,
be whatever religion they wish to be etc.
A full blown war is not everyone's idea of the
way things need to be resolved. People die in war. Systematic countering
of terrorist organisations is a war but its not a conventional one.
The US is not going to commit troops any more than it feels it needs
to. Also, not to make it sound like an issue of 'revenge' but I
don't know where you live. Lets use Auckland as an example; a terrorist
attack of the same relative effect there. How would you feel? If
you had been to the Middle East you'd understand a little better
the state of the rest of the world. No offence mate but we have
it bloody easy over here. It's not about revenge, but about countering
the threat of terrorism.
Hitting at those responsible. I would surly hope
that any action does go forth to deal directly with the problem
and not flow over to effect those whom are not responsible. Sadly,
war, no matter its form, does tend to do this.
Okay now, ask your average Islam dude and they
will tell you that their faith is about peace and tolerance. We
are perfectly tolerant of their faith, their religion. We are not
hitting back at them, but at the terrorist, the criminal. We are
not willing to show tolerance of the terrorist extremist minority.
What I have said before must be reiterated, the two aspects can
not be confused.
If anyone has ever been held by terrorists, had
a rifle pointed in their face, tortured, then perhaps they will
understand the need to eliminate terrorism, the terrorist. It is
far from war mongering. It does not mean that the individual must
be the one to act (eg: being the soldier on the ground) it simply
means they will condone the necessary force required to provide
them a freedom from that terrorism, and most certainly not judge
the soldier who provides it.
But then the average Kiwi does live in a rather
sheltered existence so it is bound to happen.
Keep in mind that I'm not talking about hitting
a terrorist whom is going in to do the damage. They are going to
kill themselves anyway.
The point is to hit the individuals who lead and
motivate them. Keys to their logistical capacity, not the logistics
itself. You take out the leaders, who are not actually committing
the act themselves. You reduce the cell operators capacity to act.
And in fact, if you can on the way through, also take out the terrorist
before they act. It is a precise mission, you do stop the terrorism.
Those that are doing it or in the process now know that they are
being hunted down. They have not had that fear before. They will
act regardless. So you act rather than react. You put them on the
back foot, keeping the pressure on. Anyone knows that it is not
realistic to say you will stop it completely but you will make it
extremely difficult for them to operate, to commit terrorism. Example
: Borneo and Malaya.
It's easy for us to stand back and consider the
proposed acts of the US as revenge rather than pre-emptive military
actions of counter terrorism. You haven't had your sovereignty invaded,
your family members killed. We have the convenience of being far
removed from such pains. If someone was standing there with a gun
to your head I am sure that you would be very glad of a soldier
willing to stand up for you, willing to keep you safe, preserve
your life. Counter Terrorism is exactly that, and it prevents the
populous from being subjected to it. As seen it is not a perfect
world, thus as its not a constant sure-fire way to prevent it, but
it is the best way we can deal with it. Diplomatic means does not
work with extremists.
Peace comes at a cost. Do not judge those who provide
it to you.
30th September 2001
Now the other side of the coin. Please don't judge
my attempts at being the devil's advocate or assessing my own opinions
with support of the Anti-US sentiment that has currently been doing
the rounds. That I assure you it is not. So many want peace. Do
not all sane people wish it to be so? But some are more realistic
and may even go so far as to take the bull by the horns directly
and commit to its goals. Many sit back and criticise while only
being capable of making unrealistic propositions on how it should
be achieved.
Here we go then.
So how was it that American politicians' thought
that trade sanctions were going to impede the war machine of Iraq,
hurt the pockets of their rivals? No, it effected the civilian population.
It made mister Sadam even more of a hero. I hope the US big boys
have enough brains not to try that approach again. Medical supplies
in Iraq, people still die there, suffer there. Do you think it is
any of the politicians, the evil war machine? No. Innocent civilians.
Just like those who lost their lives at the World Trade Centre bombings.
Speaking of these things - just recently mister
Bush lifted the sanctions imposed on India and Pakistan in 1998
for testing Nuclear weapons. He said it was "in the national
security interests of the United States". Bit of a shame it
wasn't in the interests of International security. Look at the recent
arrests in Germany, France and so on. Hopefully you get my point.
We see Bush shaking hands with French President
Jacques Chirac. Most here have forgotten the Rainbow Warrior. Well
it seems international terrorism is only regarded as such by those
who think it so and have the power to decide what a nation or people
or politicians believe. Quickly forgotten. French agents attack
a Green Peace vessel killing one man. Limpet mines, now... Short
memories and those in power dictate just how the rest of the world
will view a particular event.
Free thinking? I don't think so. Free world? Depends
on your point of view I guess.
France is almost unique in its ways of trade. Most
countries will sell off military hardware to 'the side' they are
on, Eastern / Western, Muslim / Christian whatever. The French on
the other hand will sell to whoever has the money. Before we had
the Mujahideen struggling against the Commies, now we have the Taliban
who must be wiped off the face of the planet for harbouring terrorists.
This does not say that the means were bad in the
first instant. Simply that they have been shown to fail. Thus, with
any kind of intelligence they will not be used again as a way to
deal with problems at hand. Sadly I'm convinced they will be. Just
maybe mister Terrorist was a little inflamed at such measures? Perhaps
scales of damage do not compare when looking at separate cases but
comparing damage on these sorts of circumstances is a bit more than
just ever so slightly inhuman in itself. If 1000 people die in one
case and 1 dies in the other, well, I hope you aren't the one, nor
the one's family, friends and colleagues.
All the aforementioned does not remove the need
to deal with Terrorism, nor those that condone or endorse it. Perhaps
I attempt to but look at the cause, the bigger picture. Westerners
tend to have the shades on, suffer from tunnel vision and are only
able to see the side which tend to support their own aims. Unfortunately
this is from both view points of our current situation.
Now, to reiterate previous comments on the vitally
important issue of judgement. Do not judge a culture, a faith for
a handful of extremists. That seems to be happening a lot lately.
Why do it not surprise me? Now Timothy McViegh was sent on his way
recently for crimes unmentionable. Now did they even perceive it
may have been one of their own in the first instance? No. And when
the results were finalised did they go after every white Gulf War
veteran middled aged male across the States? No. Do don't do it
to the Muslims community... please.
Just pray that effective Intelligence is mated with
effective, professional field work. Only by that path will the most
decisive battles be won with the less loss of life. And yes I mean
all round. Life is life no matter how politics tends to rate us.
It is good to see that Bush says 'There's no rules'.
Like in Vietnam, the mountain fighters of Afghanistan vanish into
the mist. The mountains there are as rugged as you'll find anywhere
on Earth, and the winters don't even bear thinking about. The irony
is that the fighters of Afghanistan wear the same sort of footwear
as the VC did. Western boot tracks are an invitation for some old
mountain man in the hills to snipe you with his .303. Well beyond
the range of an M16. Swallowing half a tonne of sand with every
mouthful of food isn't very inviting either.
In peace one must prepare for war. The general populous
has seen to it that such a notion is not at all politically correct.
Sarcasm is brooding as my heart mourns the venerability of our transgressions.
One thing that scares me is all the armchair experts
and liberal idiots. A soldier who is in eminent danger of being
shot to death can not shoot a terrorist. It's not PC see. He is
also not allowed to shoot someone intent on blowing a whole heap
of people up with a bomb. He is meant to restrain the individual
apparently, shoot him in the leg or something. Good joke. Piss an
extremist off so when he thinks he's dying he'll take you with him.
Cripes some people are so intelligent they are insanely stupid.
Up with the free world. Down with Terrorism wherever
it may be, whatever form it may take.
Now let us walk down the new road for a better tomorrow.
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