War, but Somewhere Else

War makes certain people rich while destroying the people and places where it is conducted. Wars paved the way for many developed nations today to reach great heights of economic prosperity. A proven system, it seems. Conquest of far-off lands for booty has been the norm since time immemorial. History has taught us exactly that.

But what happens if you can justify the wars you wage on others? What if you can build a narrative that makes your warring nature look like that of a saviour? That has worked very well for many nations in the West and has increasingly become a more accepted path to economic prosperity. The formula is simple: deprive and/or wreak havoc somewhere else, get what you need, then tell a persuasive story over and over again.

A small diversion: when I refer to the ‘West’ or ‘Western countries’, I do not mean the direction west. Rather, the ‘West’ refers to a band of nations and their vassal states that prefer to call themselves allies of one another.

Fuelling Radicalisation

It is no secret where nations like Saudi Arabia, which hosts the most revered religious sites of Islam, are spending their oil money. Saudi Arabia has the second-largest oil reserves in the world, and as long as Western nations get their fair share of the cut, they do not really care what Saudi does with its oil money.

On one hand, Saudi promises to counter terrorism and speaks openly against violence. On the other hand, it fuels conservative fundamentalist Islam that is averse to reform. Saudi Arabia has very effectively touched nearly every country around the world with a Muslim population.

For instance, the Gothenburg Mosque in Sweden, King Faisal Mosque in Chad, King Fahad Mosque in Los Angeles, and Seoul Central Mosque in South Korea are all infrastructures designed to proliferate Islamisation. Funds have come through several channels, including the Saudi government, the royal family, charities based in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi-sponsored organisations such as the World Muslim League, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, and the International Islamic Relief Organisation. The list goes on.

Plunder as a Means

Europe started colonising the world in search of riches—and only riches. They sailed to distant lands, often conducting genocide as a God-given right in the name of civilising others, but what they actually sought was material gain.

The way many Western nations operate today is nothing but a continuation of the era of colonisation—the hangover of colonialism. When coercion alone did not do the trick, they started relying heavily on building narratives. In simpler words, they started lying blatantly, hoping that one day the lies would become the truth. An immature logic, but it seemed to work. At least until the recent past, this propaganda and narrative-building worked just fine for them. They increasingly started relying on this “proven system.”

Wealth gathered from around the world built the developed Western nations. These handful of nations came to be perceived as the epitome of success while the rest of the world paid the price.

If we follow this logic, wealth should have solved all problems, making the West a destination of peace. To some extent it did—but for how long? The entire world aspired to go to the West in search of success. But when the foundations of nations are built on lies and hypocrisy, how long can the outer coating sustain?

The present president of the US, Trump, is just that. He is not apologetic. He accepts himself the way he is and speaks openly about it. In fact, Trump is not just an individual but represents how the Western mindset often operates. He is blatant about it—more direct. He is erratic, hypocritical, understands only money, and that is how the West, in reality, has been operating for a long time.

The US has been involved in wars in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Palestine, Venezuela, and now Iran—all within the span of the last 70-odd years. Israel has also been involved in wars in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon within a short span of time. Europe has done the same.

To safeguard their interests, they have done all kinds of inhumane things—to “teach others a lesson.” No nation is supposed to look at them eye to eye. They say; you follow. That is how they prefer it.

Not all of these wars were fought against terrorism or drug lords. Even if these wars were against terrorism, as the curated narratives suggest, who funded the terrorists in the first place?

The answer is: money from oil and ammunition industries. Guess who has the biggest ammunition industries in the world. Guess who controls a major portion of the oil markets.

Somewhere Else

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction—sometimes more sustained and dramatic.

The US is surrounded by water and possesses the world’s largest military, giving it a sense of invincibility, at least geographically. But 9/11 shattered this delusion.

The EU had a similar delusion. They believed economic prosperity would solve all issues. So they invited refugees from all over and made them citizens of their respective nations. London today has a 15 per cent Muslim population. Germany, France, Spain, and other EU countries are witnessing rapid growth in their Muslim populations.

More than 4.5 million Muslims live in the US today, and the number is rapidly increasing every year. Now, it is becoming difficult to control. And we know what happens when the percentage of Muslims exceeds a certain limit in a particular region.

Terrorism born out of religious dogma has been responsible for numerous conflicts on a global scale. And here Islam stands out. No amount of education, access to information, or technology can easily remove deep religious indoctrination.

The recent Delhi blasts conducted by radical Islamists involved highly accomplished doctors. In Islam, the seeds of intolerance are often sown very early. No country or population is safe from such a rot—a rot that is often not visible.

The Illusion of Riches

Terrorism also paves the way for counter-terrorism. The US and its “so-called” allies, in particular, have played this game effectively, shaping narratives that portray them as saviours of the world from all evil.

This is nothing but a facade. All they have ever dreamed of is material prosperity. But that dream now seems shaken. As people gain greater access to information, false narratives begin to fall apart—especially when those who created them themselves become victims of terrorism.

Our world is increasingly becoming a smaller place. The war waged elsewhere no longer remains confined within borders. The fire spreads—often engulfing the very ones who started it.

These warring nations need wars to sustain their economies. The more weapons they sell, the more money they make. And thus they have prospered—though only economically.

Wealth gave them the feeling that they are above all. Riches make them blind, making them believe that nothing and nobody can touch them.

Until a hijacked plane strikes the tallest, most majestic building. Until a jihadist starts shooting in a public place, killing hundreds. Then comes the excuse for another war to be fought—and more money to be made.

There is a common practice in India. Those who wish to walk the spiritual path must first beg from door to door. It is considered a process that humbles a person and makes one understand that bowing down does not make you less than what you are; rather, it is a tremendous empowerment. It also signifies how insignificant we ourselves are.

Even if a person gathers tremendous wealth but carries humility within and understands the fragile nature of wealth and life itself, then wealth cannot corrupt him.

I think it is time the world learns a thing or two from Bharat.

References:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-islam.html#:~:text=In%20the%20realm%20of%20extremist,ideological%20fodder%20for%20violent%20jihadists.