WikiLeaks does disservice to themselves and the world
By demonizing the United States and letting terrorists skate
It’s the world’s grandest pastime. Everyone loves to take shots at the United States. The world views the United States as some oppressive boogie-monster whose goals are to rule the world and suppress any anti-Western ideology. It’s easy, it’s convenient; but it’s wrong.
One must always be critical of a particular person or a particular nation, regardless of affiliations. One who reads the litany of my pieces understands that I am always critical of the United States when deserved. The United States is not perfect, despite a segment of our society that does feel the U.S. has never done wrong. The majority of our country, and our government, realize that the world is far too complex and diverse for us to work with it in perfect harmony.
I have always been a major proponent of open government and media that is accommodated by the government. This is not a condemnation on the media and free speech. This is not an attack on freedom of information. This is an assault on media outlets and purported whistleblowers whose focus disregards the true issues at hand.
What the dialogue has been the last few days has been the travesties committed by the United States. Let it be known and let us be clear that what most of the allegations allege are acts that were committed by Iraqi forces. These acts were documented by United States forces. These instances of torture and persecution are being carried out by fellow Muslims within Iraq. But instead of focusing on that, everyone in the world and international media, including Al Jazeera and The Guardian UK, want to discuss the despicable United States.
The U.S. is truly damned if it does and damned if it does. If we act and are proactive in Iraq we get condemned as occupiers. We get condemned as the United States that the world purportedly hates because we think that everyone should be like us. But if we don’t act we get condemned for our inaction. People that say America should come forward on the side of social justice and America should stand strong against such savagery. Damned if we do and damned if we don’t.
Lost in all of this rhetoric in the international media going after the United States and our Armed Forces is the undeniable fact that most of the travesties being committed in Iraq and across the world against Muslims are being perpetrated by fellow Muslims. The international media needs to be real with the public and Muslim leaders need to be real with their people in the fact that the United States is not their enemy. What is the enemy is the small faction in their (Muslim’s) midst that are set on reigning terror upon the people of Muslim nations. The vast majority of people killed in Iraq have been killed by fellow Muslims. Whether by inner Islam strive or sheer terrorist savagery the numbers killed in Iraq by coalition forces pale in comparison to those killed by terrorists and divisive extremists.
I understand and continue to be appalled by allegations of US inaction and instances where U.S. forces used excessive force. I will never ever stand silent and not condemn them. The individuals, particularly those who openly used excessive force, should be prosecuted to the full extent of military law. These individuals do a disservice to our Armed Forces and the good men and women who are the majority of our Armed Forces by acting in such a rogue and savage manner.
Where is this evenhandedness in the world media and in the Muslim world when the United States is discussed? The dialogue over last few days since WikiLeaks released this information has been an open condemnation of the United States in our efforts in Iraq. There is very little discussion about the hundreds of thousands of people that have lost their lives as a result of fellow Muslims killing Muslims. The world should determine exactly what they want from the US before they open their mouths and critique the United States. If the world wants us to be humanitarians then do not complain when we get involved in conflicts to try to stem violence. But if you are concerned about the U.S. being overinvolved and exerting too much influence then do not whine about when the U.S. and our forces stand by and do nothing when torture by Iraqi forces are being carried out. Be practical, be honest, and be intelligent enough to make a decision as to what you want from the United States on the international stage. Do yourselves and your readers a service by being honest about what exactly is going on in Iraq. I want to see a piece released that shows a detailed account of terrorist memos, of terrorist acts, terrorist phone calls, terrorist tactics, and the scores killed by terrorists. You will not see these numbers because this does not fit into an seditious anti-American attack. The world media needs to realize who the true enemies of Islam are. Al Jazeera and other media outlets need to understand that the greatest threat to Islam in this world is extremists that are willing to butcher Muslims because they do not subscribe to radical oppressive Islamic ideology. This sordid minority are often allowed to skate by international media while the United States is made to be the wicked world power in almost every occasion.
