An Alternative to War
Everyday I watch the news on TV. What do I see and hear? Yet another soldier has sadly been killed in Afghanistan. After all the hopes and aspirations, a young life has ended – in the course of duty, but for what else?
Despite several years and the combined forces of many countries, the terrorists have not been beaten. So it must be time to alter tactics.
One of the first lessons in life should be, if you try to do something one way and it doesn’t work, try something else. There is never any point in persistently hitting the proverbial ‘head against a brick wall’. Flexibility in thinking is vital.’The tree with a more flexible stem can bend in a storm and is more likely to survive’.
The problem with fanatics is that the underlying beliefs are rigid, based on religion and brainwashing and are untrue. Something drastic and more powerful has to happen to alter those beliefs. Behaviour, eg bombing, that strengthens the beliefs is counterproductive for change and the negative actions continue, but with added impetus.
Though I shall present a simplistic view, it is the principle that I wish to convey.
Let me mention three factors.
Firstly, somehow the Taleban and al Qaeda are getting weapons. Where from? They have no facilities to make the guns themselves, and, even if they put together the roadside bombs which are doing so much damage, they still have to obtain the required components. So, who is supplying the Taleban and why have they not been found and stopped?
Secondly, the poppy fields in Afghanistan provide not only a livelihood for the farmers and money for the Taleban but also drugs of addiction, causing untold havoc and destruction of life throughout the world. Ironically, we see pictures of the soldiers walking, waist high, through fields of pink poppies. The poppy fields should be destroyed ASAP.
Thirdly, what do the Afghan people want and need? The general population, like people throughout the world want to be able to feed themselves and their children and live in peace to enjoy a home life. Primarily, whatever else, they need the wherewithal to produce and procure food and medicines.
My suggestions would be that the international community, United Nations, whatever and whoever the faceless people are, agree to:-
1) Stop ALL fighting and concentrate a few skilled men on the task of finding the leaders of the terrorists and bringing them to justice. Only in maths and grammar do two negatives make a positive. In real life, two wrongs are two wrongs!
2) Destroy all poppy fields – preferably in co-operation with the farmers, but if not, this action is still necessary, and in a way that creates least damage to the land. Regular burning, of old and new growth of the plants is one way rather than poisoning the land, though anyone with any poppies growing in their garden knows how persistent these plants can be. However, this should be within the scope of present day technology!
3) Fighting must stop. Instead, the troops, money, aeroplanes etc should be used to airlift sufficient food into the country on a long term basis to feed ALL the people, and medicines to treat their illnesses. The members of the terrorist organisations could also be fed and treated in exchange for their weapons.
A distribution network of food centres and medical centres would need to be set up. These could be run, even for several years, by the military of all the nations involved – from their camps and depots to avoid looting, stealing or corruption. The billions spent would then not be wasted, as now, in destruction of innocent people and the country but have a peaceful and helpful purpose. From ever point of view, however much food and medicines are supplied, it would still be much cheaper than the continuation of war.
The Taleban can fight with weapons to kill. Would they compete to try to win over the people by supplying food and medical facilities? I doubt it.
The final phase would be to provide plants and facilities for processing the produce for sale. The farmers could grow alternative crops, as is already being done in some areas, where pomegranates are being grown.
The money is already being wasted in billions on the war effort. Why not do something different, something positive? Something which will enhance peoples lives – rather than destroy. In that way, gradually, over time, the power and fear of the terrorists will be weakened, and invasion of others’ country will be helping to create health rather than destroy life. Beliefs can change, slowly, in this way.
Of course, these actions require a different mind-set in those who govern. The fear engendered by terrorists in the minds of politicians is the fear of death. People in power travel abroad with hundreds of security guards and can even take their own steel-armoured car. Despite the carbon footprint being immense for these trips abroad, that is, apparently, of no concern when compared to the fear of their own death. They make commands from behind the safety of their desks, and, speak from behind bullet proof shields.
They then decide that young soldiers should be sent out daily – to face bullets and possible death. No wonder President Obama took a long time to decide to send extra troops to Afghanistan! His mistake, in my opinion, was in continuing with the ‘fighting’ policy, though no one can make change on their own, however powerful. However, all the elements are in place to change and sufficient to change ‘fight’ to ‘feed’.
When I worked as a Doctor for very many years, I never, to my knowledge, prescribed a drug or treatment for anyone that I would not have accepted to have myself in identical circumstances. It had to be potentially OK for me, based on knowledge, before it was OK for anyone else. If the politicians or terrorist leaders had the same rules, then the wars and fighting would stop. Why do people like Bin Laden hide? Fear of death. What they cause they also fear. I will just add that they have every justification for that fear as everyone must account for their actions when they die, and one day, by the very nature of being a human, they will die.
I once saw a programme on TV about a tribe in one of the isolated areas of the world. This tribe’s main objective each year was for each village to work to rear as many turkeys as possible. Why? Once a year, the villages had a contest.The village which gave most turkeys to their neighbours won the highest regard and respect.
And the so-called civilized world thinks it knows best?
Certainly, it is quite brilliant in the subject of, ‘How to waste vast amounts of money and inflict immeasurable pain’, and would obtain a distinction in ‘Greed’.
My only concern with my ‘plan’ is that ‘Greed’ will become a ‘spoke in the wheel’. Those who send the food, provide the fuel for the transport, or even the transport itself will no doubt see this strategy as yet another way to make excess money at the expense of those who are needy.
At least I would trust the soldiers to deliver the food and medicines once they arrive in their vicinity.
But, isn’t it time for change?
To find out where to read a longer article or an article which explains the ‘logical levels of mental functioning’ – see links in the ‘resource’ box.
