In a recent article, prominent Pakistani columnist Dr. Muzaffar Iqbal criticized the anti-war movement in the West for its silence over the military operation against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dr. Iqbal also accused the deployment of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan of being part of the U.S.'s "continuous lust for blood."
Following are some excerpts from the article, entitled "The U.S. Thirst for Blood," as originally published in English in the Pakistani daily The News: [1]
"The Anti-war Movement is in Total Disarray Over the Continuous Occupation of Afghanistan and the Expanding Military Operations"
"The anti-war movement in America, Canada, and Britain has virtually become a nonentity. This was not unpredictable, because the diverse groups which make up the so-called anti-war movement have neither the resources, nor the leadership, nor any solid ideological foundation beyond the apparent loathing for war.
"The invasion of Afghanistan by the United States took place at a time of high fever (September 11, 2001 attacks) and no one thought much of the Americans' long-term agenda at the time of the Afghan invasion. Hence, Afghanistan never gained the kind of front-end importance which Iraq immediately achieved with the anti-war movement.
"But now the anti-war movement is in total disarray over the continuous occupation of Afghanistan and the expanding military operations. This has given a free hand to the three main governments which lead Afghan operations to do whatever they wish to do in Afghanistan without any fear of home-grown opposition.
"Thus, President Obama had no one to oppose him when he decided to send more troops into Afghanistan. He did this to make his first term as 'successful' as that of his predecessors - assuming that the time-tested American definition of success still holds good: America must be engaged in a war to be successful."
"Although [The U.S.] is Moving Its Soldiers Out Of Iraqi Towns, It Is Simply Redeploying Them - This Continuous Lust For Blood Now Defines America"
"The insatiable American thirst for blood is now in full bloom in this killing season, as its drones continue to take the lives of men, women, and children in various parts of Pakistani FATA [federally administered tribal areas along the Afghan border] and its soldiers continue to dig deeper and deeper into Afghanistan.
"Although it is moving its soldiers out of Iraqi towns, it is simply redeploying them. This continuous lust for blood now defines America. Its war machine has become so bloodthirsty that there is no end in sight of American occupation of Afghanistan, even though it has absolutely no moral or legal justification..."
"Yet neither the increased troops, nor the huge monetary resources being pumped into Afghan war indicate anything but failure. Just two weeks into July, 46 foreign troops had already been killed, making July 2009 a record month. But for NATO spokesman Rear Admiral Greg Smith, these deaths were 'something we did anticipate occurring as we extend our influence in the south.' He also touted the 'pretty intensive set of objectives being met in terms of routing the insurgents.' Blood and death is simply what is expected, there is absolutely no shame, no regret, no qualms about loss of human lives; it is all expected and that, somehow justifies it!
"On July 10, the death of eight British soldiers in one 24-hour period set a record: the British military's death toll in Afghanistan (184) now surpasses the number of its soldiers killed in Iraq (179). Yet, speaking at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended the Afghan mission: 'Our resolution to complete the work we have started is undiminished,' he said...."
"It is this circular rhetoric of American, Canadian, and British politicians that has become the bedrock of their raison d'être to be in Afghanistan: We need to complete the mission we started. But if one asks them 'what mission?' 'what exactly is the reason for your presence in Afghanistan?' they have no answer except vague [platitudes]: defending the hard-won progress, eliminating terrorism, defending our ideals, safeguarding our nation...."
"'Whose freedom, what peace?' one may ask. These men and women are being sacrificed simply in pursuit of a phantom enemy in a faraway land. No Canadian in his or her right mind believes that the Taliban in Afghanistan are going to attack their country. There is simply no reason for Canadian soldiers to be in Afghanistan - but this most simple, most apparent fact does not enter the calculations of Canadian politicians because they immediately start to think of the economic consequences of pulling out of Afghanistan: What would happen to the trade with the big trade partner to the south if we pulled out? How many jobs will be lost...."
"If History Is Any Guide… Sooner or Later the Foreign Troops will Have to Leave Afghanistan - And They will Leave Behind Nothing but Broken Families, Severed Bodies, Frightened Children..."
"If history is any guide, one can say with certainty that sooner or later the foreign troops will have to leave Afghanistan, and they will leave behind nothing but broken families, severed bodies, frightened children, and a trail of corruption and destruction of a level and scale never witnessed in Afghan history.
"Yet this will not happen until the Americans find another place to send their soldiers, so that their insatiable thirst for blood has new killing fields."
Endnote:
[1] The News, Pakistan, July 17, 2009.
