FRIENDS, HUH!
Who are our international friends?
Speaking with the name of the government, can we, in view
of recent revelations and vague memories of other such infractions of common rules of conduct, how can we call some nations our “allies”in our present war against terrorism?
The subject surfaces somewhere in our media every few months . How can some of our “allies” be called friends when they have profited from selling firearms to our enemies? The term firearms is usually used to mean all sorts of modern weaponry as well as suitable ammunition.. Such trade commitments to nation which offer havens of refuge and assistance to terrorist groups influence the degree of participation of certain nations when called upon to help us in tracking down suspected terrorist leaders. Small wonder, then, that the politicians of nations so compromised have been, and one might suppose remain, hesitant in giving sincere support to United States.
The allegations being spread around in recent weeks hold that France and Russia, in particular, have been selling munitions to Iraq and other nations and other nations harboring terrorists. Firearms of all sizes and types found in Iraq and Afghanistan, killing fields prove to be of French or Russia manufacture. There can be small wonder that politicians of nations so compromised by such double dealing might be hesitant, and continue to be so, when asked to cooperate with American efforts to quell terrorist ravages of more and more nation.
There is nothing new about these allegations. It has been evident for many years that what happens in the Mid-East is, directly or indirectly, financed in the West. That was estab lished;Lishe decades ago and our military and governmental people are aware of what has been business as usual . They are experienced in knowing what influence such conditons may have on our own policies. If figure concerning the movement of illicit arms aroud the world were made pub,a gret many Americans would be shocked. There are munitions sales-persons engaged in selling arms and supplies for waging war. They work in strange system involving graft, corruption, blackmail and deceit. Some of their firms have names you would probably recall without too much trouble. .
The real danger in this for all of us,is that we may be led to misjudge the sincereity the other nations who are sincerely and energetically, supporting the war on terrorism. We should be thankful for the dependable ones helping us! I have, purposely,not m,mentioned any of them this time,but get to know them and express your appreciation in any way you can.
We are also called upon to forgive the few “bad apples”in the barrel. Before these terror times are ended, .we are going to have to work together in ways we have never done before. More and more we are becoming nations without borders.
A.L.M. September 8, 2004 [c483wds]
