The Rats of War

by Robert Wittig

On September 11th, a few people of Arabic Islamic lineage of one sort or another, hijacked four commercial airliners, and succeeded in crashing them all, three into pre-selected targets, killing many thousands of people. In the hours that followed, much of the world was sitting in front of TV sets with their mouths hanging open, and was treated to images of other people of Arabic Islamic lineage, dancing in the streets, celebrating the event.

Due to the magic of modern electronic media, people around the globe were able to view the events as they happened, and in many places, simultaneously, with full shock value added by the nature of the media itself. It is visual, it is visceral, it does not explain its content—just raw visual input, juxtaposed on the same screen; many people dying horribly, in full view of the cameras / many people cheering their deaths, in full view of the cameras.

Long before the president of the United States had a chance to compose himself, and declare a 'War on Terrorism', the applied arts had delivered a blow to both all people of Arabic lineage, and all people who subscribe to Islamic belief, that they will not recover from in the next 100 years. Those images, captured in just a few minutes of live feed, and edited almost as quickly, have and will continue to cast a dark shadow across the lives of countless people who had nothing to do with the events that took place, most of whom have not even been born yet ... and there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do about it. It is essentially a done deal. The tapes will be copied and distributed endlessly for decades to come, and they will not offer any in-depth explanations ... they will show American civilians dying horrible deaths, while Arabs cheer. People who play 21st century politics should think more carefully about media impact, and what might be the results if events are deflected even the tiniest bit, from their narrowly circumscribed plan.

I am sure that the people who planned and executed these events did not take this into account, and may not yet (those who remain alive) believe what I am saying, but this is more a matter of their denial, than reality. They had a plan, executed it (along with 6,000+ people), and see events as proceeding very much according to plan. The American economy is staggering, the stupid American president is sending out troops to their eventual destruction, and whatever will be, will happen according to the will of Allah. But this is unlikely to be the whole story, because no plan of such global magnitude proceeds in a vacuum, and in the end, the small but infinite-in-number variables, unaccounted for in the plan, take over, Allah or not. Besides, it is always a very dangerous game to play ... to presume to know the will of Allah. I have no idea what will be the real, final fallout from this act, but here are some possible nuggets of reality (along with some of my personal conclusions), that the planners of the attacks probably did not consider.

Global Warming

The United States, which was under huge international pressure to do something about CO2 emissions, and the global warming crisis, is now totally unconcerned with the issue, and concerned only with catching terrorists, a task which is virtually impossible, and will probably occupy them for decades to come. Of course, they will deny this if confronted, but watch their foreign policy as it unfolds, and see what really happens. Both Arab and Islamic populations reside primarily, and in majority, in the areas of the planet that stand to suffer most from global warming. The American public, which was to a significant extent pressuring its leaders and corporations to act on behalf of global warming issues, are now almost silent on the matter, since they are more concerned for their own personal safety, than with the health and welfare of the planet in general.

This is really a total catastrophe for every human being living on the planet, far worse than the terrorist acts that preceded it, but that does not matter. People like myself, who were so totally and publicly critical of both the U.S. government's inaction, and the stupidity of the American consumer, in contributing to the problem through their own bad, wasteful habits, have by and large just thrown up our hands in disgust; there is nothing more to be done, now. America, along with most other developed countries, and a lot of not-so-developed countries, are putting on their war faces, and have conveniently forgotten all about the global warming issue. Let's face it, even though fighting terrorism is an extraordinarily difficult task, it is a heck of a lot easier than dealing with global warming; a notion that, while very real, and potentially a planet-destroyer, is hard for our fearless 'leaders' to even get their minds around. In a crazy sort of way, I suspect that many of them are relieved to have been presented with something to get them off the hook on the global warming issue. I shudder to think what the climate will be like in most of the Islamic regions of the world by the time this 'war on terror' has finally burned itself out.

OPEC, and the Arab/Islamic business communities

As Western economies slow down, OPEC will be the first predominantly Arabic entity to feel the pinch, probably even before American military forces can find a suitable target to bomb. Airplanes that do not fly require no petroleum, and neither do manufacturing concerns that do not manufacture require any materials or labor forces. There is no such thing anymore as an American economy; it has long since been replaced by a global economy. As the USA fares financially, so in large measure, does the rest of the planet, including Arabic/Islamic concerns. This has nothing directly to do with 'payback' or 'punishment' for the bombings, but is just the reality of supply and demand. In the future, however, I do not expect OPEC to ever hold sway over American energy supplies as they have in the past.

This particular event will not 'blow over' in a few years, and neither will the situation be limited to the USA, in terms of response. The act itself was too publicly monstrous, and also, too well documented on videotape, to fade from human consciousness quickly enough to allow for a return to the previous status quo. I expect that global energy policies will gradually be remapped, with OPEC having a less central position on the map than in years past. The event might even wind up causing the USA and other giant energy consumers to rethink their entire philosophy towards both energy production, and consumption, which could be good. OPEC, and especially its Arabic members, will probably be a big loser, though, no matter how the future unfolds. Also, the fallout might be divisive to OPEC as a whole, driving a wedge between Islamic and non-Islamic members, who might feel slighted by hearing themselves referred to as 'Infidels', while at the same time being expected to share whatever negative fallout OPEC attracts, on behalf of its Islamic members.

Governments and corporations are going to nod their heads and say yes ... this was terrorism, pure and simple, not the acts of either Islam, or Arabs, per se. Then they will retire to their board rooms and make decisions that protect them personally as much as possible, first as individuals and then as governments and corporations, from the volatility of doing business with countries and people who have neither the power nor the resolve to reign in their more violently radical elements. It was the World Trade Center that was attacked, and therefore the very individuals at the head of international commerce themselves who were targeted, not some abstract 'corporate' entity. I suspect that they are getting the message quite loud and clear, that they are no longer welcomed in Islamic nations, and that they as individuals, can also consider themselves targeted for death, at home, in their beds, with their families, should it strike the fancy of Islamic terrorists. One of the great problems that Islamic countries will have to face is that for many years they allowed such terrorists to operate, as an unofficial arm of their foreign policy. They had their 'mad dog' on a short leash, and used the threat of terror as a political tool; as a counter to the USA's 'mad dog', Israel. This makes it impossible for them to completely dissociate themselves from the terrorists now, especially in those countries where students and citizens were filmed cheering the fiery deaths of American secretaries and janitors. Saying that these were the acts of a few madmen, and unrelated to them as nations, or as a religion, will not be believed by enough non-Islamic observers to be significant. Even those countries that support their stance against the USA will not believe that the terrorists acted independent of Islam. The Islamic countries have for decades held the USA partially responsible for Israel's actions, because the USA supported Israel. For them now to claim no connection to the terrorists, and be believed by anyone, even their friends, would be impossible. Once again, everyone will nod yes, but with a wink. Then they will go someplace private, and think carefully about whether or not they might personally wind up on some Ayatollah's hit list, since they are infidels, themselves.

I would expect to see all international corporations, especially those who had offices in the World Trade Center, or any other high-rise, in any other 'infidel' nation, gradually diminish their investments, both financial and human, in Islamic countries. This is not something that necessarily makes sterling good business sense, but it is an understandable reaction to people who fear violent reprisals against their persons, and their families. Airplanes were used as weapons, and financial centers were targeted, making it personal, and not just business. The fact that financial transactions were also placed, in order to profit from the attacks, will also not play well with business interests. I would expect the investment community to be very wary of both Arab and Islamic money, for as long as the current crop of players live, at least. There is insider trading, and then there is this: insider trading where the profit is to be made by knowing that the traders themselves will be executed, in order to manipulate the market.

Racial and Religious Profiling

People are bigots by nature. I do not mean simply Americans, and in fact, we are probably one of the less-afflicted nations on the planet, although our bigotry is probably the best publicised, since we have been struggling with it very openly, for decades. We have made some small progress in the last 40 years. I fear that we are going to suffer a setback in this regard, especially where people of Arabic descent, and the Islamic religion are concerned. I expect the problem not to be limited to our nation, either. It has been a tremendous uphill struggle for most Americans, to overcome to even a small degree the natural tendency seen in every culture I can think of, to dislike people who are 'not like us'. In the past two weeks I have seen, despite all the public talk to the contrary, American society back-step 20 years or more, where Arabs and followers of Islam are concerned. I have no illusions about this back-stepping standing even the smallest chance of being contained at the level of a single people, or religious group. Eventually it will spread, and we will have to start all over again, at or near the beginning, where cleaning up the mess of racial prejudice and profiling are concerned.

I suspect that the 'American Dream' for Arabs and followers of Islam living in this country ... and even for people who look like they might fit into either of these categories, has been terribly diminished, and through absolutely no fault of their own. If America does better in this respect than I think it will, I will be proud, but I fear for the worst: that these people will find themselves mistrusted and feared second-class citizens, for no reason other than that they resembled someone on the other side of the planet, who hates Americans, and wants them all dead.

I have read accounts of some of the people who are doing the racial and religious profiling, and the saddest part is, they are often Blacks, Hispanics, and other people who have experienced such treatment themselves, but who now find themselves in the position of feeling it is their responsibility, sometimes because of their working in security jobs, to profile people of Arabic, and Islamic heritage ... Suppose they don't, and are wrong, and more people are killed in terrorist attacks? This is sad, but it is an old American struggle, and one we will have to deal with, and will, eventually. But I expect many Arab-Americans, and Arab nationals living here, and many non-Arab Islamic, and even people who only look like they might be of Arabic or Islamic descent, to wind up being punished for who they are, and how they look, and not anything they have done.

The Possible Fragmentation of Islam

The people who made these plans, and initiated the bombings, most certainly intended to fragment and divide American society, with fear. In this matter, I believe their plans have failed miserably. Instead, they seem to have united American society in a way not seen since World War II, which was the last time a foreign power attacked American soil. I guess Americans dislike foreigners who come over here and blow them up, even more than they dislike their own government, and crooked business interests. That really should not have been a big surprise, but maybe the planners did not consider that American citizens would respond differently to an attack on their own soil, than they did to the War in VietNam.

Another thing that the planners might not have figured on, was that their actions might wind up being more divisive to Islam, than to the USA, but such is a very real possibility. I don't know much about Islam, the religion, but it seems that there is already dissention among their ranks, regarding the acts in question. The taking of life, as it was taken in the airplanes and the World Trade Center (the Pentagon victims, at least, were warriors), might be against Islamic law. Our Christian religions certainly do not condone such action, even when our government does. During the VietNam conflict, many people of faith stood against their government, for fighting an unjust war, and this was part of what helped to weaken America's resolve in that war, and finally to withdraw in defeat. To this day, many Christians stand divided on these issues. Now Moslems will find themselves in a similar position.

The Price to Humanity At Large

In the final analysis, Islam and people of Arabic lineage will probably wind up paying a price in every respect (financial, religious, cultural, and in human lives) that exceeds what the USA or the international business community will pay, at least initially. As far as I am concerned, this is no reason for America or the West to rejoice. Everyone, after all, will wind up a loser in the long run, and it is thin gruel indeed, that one 'side' loses more than the other 'side'. Humanity as a whole will suffer ... at a time, and in a manner, which they cannot afford. Ecologically, the clock is running down on this planet, and the only means to restore that clock, is through massive human cooperation, on a global scale ... something that has never been done in the history of the species, and seems less likely to ever be accomplished, in light of the past weeks' events, and the limited amount of time left, on that global clock, before we cross a point of no return.

While the 'Dogs of War' on both 'sides' put on their war faces, and wave their fists, flags, guns, nuclear missiles, anthrax germs, and VX gas canisters at each other, and dance before the cameras, for all the world to see, the global population continues to rise at an explosive rate, while human life expectancy on the planet overall continues to decline. The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere continue to rise, along with the mean global temperature, while the amount of forested land, arable topsoil, and decent drinking water continue to decline. The decimation of advanced species continues on land and in the oceans, while microbes and virii (the only predators to mankind that mankind has not crippled, other than himself) continue to proliferate. The planet becomes less fit to support human life with each passing day. The science of ecological balance does not care about political arguments or agenda, and cannot be threatened or bullied into cooperation. As long as human activity on the planet continues along its current path, the eventual results are predictable: we will all eventually drown in our own feces, one way or another ... and as it happens ... as we slowly suffocate in our own shit ... we can continue to argue with ever-increasing ferocity amongst ourselves, as to how we will divide our ever-diminishing, and increasingly polluted pie, among our ever-increasing populations.

Arab can continue to hate Jew ... and Jew, to hate Arab. The international business community, and the wealthy Western governments, can continue to rape and plunder smaller, weaker nations, for their own profits. The Islamic faith can continue to despise the 'infidel', and to allow some of its followers to use the faith as a recruiting ground for suicide bombers. All people, just about everywhere can continue to reproduce irresponsibly, so that there are more people than the planet can feed, and then conveniently blame their neighbours for their desperate conditions, while ignoring the fact their neighbours are not the fathers of their children. Industry can continue to pump its sewage into the air, land and ocean so that we can eat, drink and inhale it, while at the same time, much of what those industries produce is of no value whatsoever to anyone, and in fact is bad for us, and can only be sold to unsuspecting human beings by creating another industry called 'advertising', which claims to inform, but is more often than not engaged in the business of telling us half-truths, outright lies, and appealing to every human weakness that we possess, in order to sell us crap that is going to shorten and diminish our lives.

... And at the same time that we are doing all of these things, let us close our eyes very tightly and believe that WE (whichever WE you happen to belong to) are RIGHT, and GOOD ... and that THEY are WRONG, and EVIL. Of course, it is complete bullshit ... but it will make killing each other so much easier ... why, heck ... you can even claim that you are doing the work of God, Allah, Jehovah, or whatever deity you claim as your own....

... But when we all open our eyes, after this useless exercise in self-deception and bullshit ... we will all, each and every one of us, be eating, drinking, and breathing his neighbor's shit. That is the nature of our crowded planet. Neither Allah, nor Buddha, nor Jesus, nor Jehovah, is going to come down here and clean up our mess for us. We are either going to clean it up ourselves, working together, or it isn't going to get done. If you think that humanity has time for another bullshit war ... of any kind ... you are sadly mistaken.

The greatest trick that the Devil ever performed was not in convincing people that he didn't exist ... it was in convincing them that THEIR side was God's side, and that their enemy's side, was the devil's.

There are no dogs of war to unleash, this time ... only a plague of rats.

Copyright © Robert Wittig 2003