When the U.S. armed so-called rebels in Syria, it is replicating the efforts undertaken decades ago in Afghanistan, with the same predictable results. These efforts of regime change, in addition to being violations of international law, also are doorways to blowback. For the madmen you unleash today may turn on you tomorrow.
The U.S., born into a “new nation,” in Lincoln’s words, from civil war, should think long and hard before interfering in civil wars of others. At the same time that the U.S disarms one side of the war, the government, it arms the other, the so-called rebels. By doing so, the U.S steers the pot of instability, causing more turmoil in Syria, weakening it in service to its client state, Israel. These so-called humanitarian interventions, now premised on promises of “no boots on the ground,” are but neoliberal masks to hide the true face of imperialism; to control, to exploit, to devour other nations for their wealthy elite benefactors.
To cross borders with malevolent intent is an act of war. To arm belligerents in another country is an act of war. To bomb citizens of another nation, is an act of war. “Boots on the ground” is just a quaint phrase meant to cover the other forms of war. What are drones but weapons of war? Bomb-dropping machines of immense destruction. How would Americans react if a foreign country bombs a neighborhood in this country? Would they just shrug it off? You know the answer. But Americans can bomb others, drone cities, replace governments on a whim, all the while with the sweet assurance that there are “no boots on the ground.” Just as sure as sunrise, the rebels of today will turn their enmity toward the U.S, and teach, once again, the bitter meaning of blowback. From in prison nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
