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Missiles and Germs (October 18) Not very long ago, the United States demonstrated another reason why it was invincible militarily. It had showed the world that its weapons technology was so advanced that it can destroy missiles before it hit its target with a satellite guided defense system. In short it was close to actualizing its strategic defense initiative, SDI, by which it would have spread a missile, and consequently a nuclear umbrella over itself and eventually the whole world. In other words, all missiles and nuclear weapons delivery systems of the entire world, except its own, were on the way of being rendered not worth even their weight in scrap iron, particularly if they were meant to be used against the US. Nothing can be more ironic in the circumstances that the US today is a nation terrorized to the roots. Its nuclear umbrella cannot screen hate and today its citizens can never be certain which letter they receive contain death. The shape of hate being so amorphous, who knows in the days ahead, they may not even be able to drink water from the tap, use public urinals, enter cinema halls, venture out of their homes, or even breathe without the fear of unnatural death. It is a new kind of war, President George W Bush, barked menacingly at practically every televised public speech he made after September 11. No prediction could have been more accurate, although we all know the president of the most powerful nation meant something else. So while Afghanistan has been forced to a daily diet of cruise missiles, ordinary Americans are being terrorized by germs arriving by mail. What an irony indeed. America is nuclear secure but it cannot open its letters. There already have been four cases of anthrax, a lethal disease caused by an easily spread virus, long obscured from the US and from most parts of the world. Its national flag, the stars and stripes, we are informed, today flies from every housetop in the US, but we fear for the nation that gas masks and germ screening gloves may also become its national uniform. Terrorism indeed is terrifying. Even the powerful US is having a feel of the chill. Even tough man George Bush is showing signs of helpless frustration. He has indicated that America may support the idea of the creation of an independent Palestine much to the consternation of Israel. To think this is likely to be the shape of future wars is spine chilling. Today it is the US, tomorrow it can be anybody. Hate has no particular destination. It can emanate from anywhere and hit any place. The solution, we are convinced, lies in giving a newer shape to George Bush's new war. The enemy perhaps is not so much terrorism but hate, the former being only a visible manifestation of the latter. The focus of peacemakers around the world should hence perhaps also be to identify the cause or causes of so much hate generated all over the world. Peace we have always contended, cannot be divested from justice. That justice must be a precondition of peace anywhere in the world. Its absence has always spelt dangerous friction. Justice is also not a simple matter. For it involves vision from a common platform, a common law and sense of right and wrong. Devoid of this, what is food for one can be poison for another. Those of us in Manipur should not have any difficulty in understanding this. (Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press) Back to Top FrontPage Manipur Profiles Features Potpourri Opinions Editorials Books Photos Links Archives Contact Policy/Disclaimer |
