One of the reasons for the current bloodshed across the world is the tremendous profit that weapons manufacturers generate due to ongoing wars and conflict. People recognise oil as the main reason for the war in Iraq, but an equally important impetus for the war was to create demand for more military hardware. This has resulted in a gold mine for the United States’ military-industrial complex.
And it doesn’t end there. The weapons industry of the US also sells billions of dollars’ worth of guns and munitions to Israel, which goes to show that America as a capitalist state does not care for a peaceful settlement to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Perpetual war requires a constant need for more weapons, which the weapons manufacturers are happy to provide for their profits, which are astonishing. According to CorpWatch.org, in 2005 Lockheed Martin made $19.4bn in military contracts, while Northrop Grumman received $13.5bn from the government. Both of these firms contribute heavily to political campaigns for both Republicans and Democrats. Democracy indeed!
Meanwhile, US-based private military contractors have become a huge business since the invasion of Iraq, with notorious armies of mercenaries operating under company names such as Xe Services (formerly known as Blackwater). The privatisation of war means that an end to conflict is not in their best interests.
This goes hand-in-hand with the pervading western view of Muslims and Islam more suited to the crusaders of centuries past rather than the enlightened modern age. This is most unfortunate, as Muslims would welcome good will and friendship from non-Muslims, instead of the hostility and suspicion they receive.
It does not take a great visionary to see that Islam will continue to become more influential as an ideology, as Muslims are becoming more politically aware and devoted to the cause of justice. Unfortunately, the political leaders of Ireland are siding with the devil. They have been passively co-operating with the US in the so-called ‘war on terror’, which for many people is more like a war of terror.
This is something that has to stop. Ireland should reject American imperialism just as it rejected British imperialism, and become a stronger voice for justice against invasion, rendition, torture and militant capitalism.
Qasim Afridi is a member of the think tank Glór Moslamach
glormoslamach@gmail.com
