Over half way through the year 2011, there might be some thought among Western leaders that we had reached a watershed moment in the war against fundamentalist Islamic terrorists. Osama bin Laden is dead despite the words of conspiracy theorists and Al Qaeda has been badly battered and bruised metaphorically while suffering losses of leadership from the air and on the ground. If Al Qaeda had a vertically integrated command structure, there would be good reason to celebrate.
However, we must remind ourselves at this time that what former president George W. Bush described as the global war on terror following September 9, 2001 - the Al Qaeda attack on the World Trade Center in New York using aircraft as missiles and killing civilians in the aircraft, the twin towers and adjacent buildings; the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania with a death toll that is by no means conclusive, continues and is the longest war in which the US has been engaged as the major fighting power.
Allies of the US have slowly fallen by the way owing to domestic political pressure and the costs of involvement. 10 years later there is talk of discussions with the Taliban to secure an honorable withdrawal from Afghanistan. I take the rather simplistic view that the nature of the war has changed and it is not worth spending one more valuable life in that hostile country, which has mired and dealt fearfully with would-be invaders and that is exactly how the Western coalition is viewed by tribespeople. It is an alien society, basically feudal and unchanged, governed by corruption and the Koran and naturally enough, tribal warlords. When Western forces leave, it will be business as usual for tribesmen and corrupt politicians.
We should pause and reflect that this war started with the issue of a fatwa by Osama bin Laden in 1996 and we chose to ignore what was said through the first bombing attempt on the WTC, attacks on US facilities, premises and Armed Forces overseas until that dreadful day in September. Every now and then, I listen to and watch the speech by Pres. Bush following the attack and although the concept of a global war on terror became enmeshed with the struggle against the three powers that constituted the axis of evil, Iraq, Iran and North Korea, the most damage beyond the immediacy of the bombing in New York was typically carried out in newspapers which derogated the commander-in-chief and poured scorn on his tactics and beyond that, doing more than imply that he was in some way mentally deficient.
Despite what are variously known as the chattering classes or the nabobs of negativism Barak Hussein Osama has had no option but to continue the fight. And it still hasn't dawned on the great American public that you are at war. It must affect families across the US as it does in my country when coffins return to be buried with pomp and ceremony, handing the flag to the next of kin but it doesn't bring the deceased back to life. How many kids will ask: “What happened to daddy?” What sort of answer can you give? "Well son/daughter he went abroad to serve his country and was killed. It's like this…our country called and your Pa/Ma listened and went to war." I have daughters, one of whom is in a wheelchair for life and totally unable to gain work despite being brilliant. No grandchildren for me from her marriage. And like many of her generation, her ungrateful sister, unmarried with child could not care about how close we came to extinction during the Cold War, let alone comprehend the deadly problem posed by fundamentalist Islamic extremists, those very people that the politically correct won't let you call by name.
It transcends the bounds of civilized behavior for Westerners to be too triumphalist at war. It crossed my mind that dumping bin Laden's body at sea, with or without an Islamic funeral service was justified but it was rather a pity that he was shot in the face. Some creative work by forensic specialists could have surely produced a nice edifice to be placed outside the White House or perhaps at Ground Zero. It should be a salutary reminder that to paraphrase a comedy show, “you can run but you can't hidefy” (sic). Whether a terrorist is taken out by a Predator drone or a raid by special forces is probably irrelevant, provided they are removed.
The events in Oslo last weekend overshadowed our media and it appears that it was a case of an extreme right wing activist killing over 90 people with bombs in the city, which is a very pleasant place with nice people and then calmly shooting members of the youth wing of the governing Labor Party. It appears that he was a pretty good marksman and just picked them off. I've looked across the media for any signs of remorse but they are singularly lacking and the claim that he acted in accordance with Christian principles rings pretty hollow. Eight or nine centuries ago, as history has shown, we would have been as barbaric in dealing with the Saracens as they did with the infidels. But Christianity has moved on and undergone a series of internal revolutions to the extent that we try for the impossible, a clean war. All manner of civilians and armchair warriors can afford the luxury of condemning excesses in the field and it is certain that they happen. However, just like Vietnam, it's a question of surviving in a hostile environment.
Australian and New Zealand troops serving in Afghanistan don't get much of a mention in the US media. We have small populations but in terms of participation, our numerical contribution is proportionate and Australian forces operate deep behind enemy lines. We send our best and to an American, used to seeing coffins coming of aircraft in multiple numbers, the sight of the honor and respect accorded the return of one or two soldiers at a time might seem small beer. It's a far cry from Iraq when there was a tremendous public backlash about the dead being sent home as air freight in commercial aircraft. Our fallen get treatment they deserve - a full honor guard at both ends and the funeral services are attended by usually the Prime Minister or a senior minister and the top brass. It rather beggars belief at times when you read that the deceased had was killed on his 2nd or 3rd tour of duty.
I can fully understand the current political situation in the US; the problems with the economy and the president whose popularity is plumbing new depths. Nevertheless, as our Prime Minister Julia Gillard said earlier this year in an address to the U.S. Congress, when we watched Americans walk on the moon, we believe they could do anything. Your country has had its share of problems and difficulties; natural disasters, scandals and an increasingly raucous political debate. Personally I feel confident that American greatness will reassert itself and in the not too distant future. However, I feel I must remind you that America is at war; that Western civilization faces a danger far greater than during the Cold War.
Refusal to acknowledge basic facts about the enemy will not suffice. If you bring the troops home, that will not be the end of the story. You will be fighting in the streets of your cities just as we will in ours. We did not ask for this war and Osama bin Laden's declaration was that of a leader grounded in 7th century theology who helped kick the Soviet forces out of Afghanistan and then turned on those who assisted, armed and supported him and his forces. The searing resentment of the leaders of Al Qaeda is far from being rational. Like the Pakistan government, they believed they needed more help and yet would they accept help from those who they are sworn to destroy or subjugate.
Citizens of the West in the 21st century are being faced with demands for special treatment for Islamic immigrants including sharia law and the right to wear different dress which manages to obscure what lies beneath. They may have sworn on oath of allegiance to America and gained citizenship and passports but as events have shown and continue to show, their true allegiance lies elsewhere. In days gone by, we used to talk about the enemy beyond the gates but these days they are inside and somehow we have to resolve the problem our respective countries face in common. As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, it is incumbent on us all this to swear that the lives lost will not be forgotten and the evil cause directed against us will not prevail.
