Judas

It’s no secret to my close friends and family that I yearn to live in America. Some ask if it is because of the famous people – probably, some ask if it is because America provides more avenues for success – yes. However, when I am asked if it is because I have idealised America, and all it stands for, I respond with what is an unyielding, no.   

America’s economy is crap, plain and simple, and the health system is even worse - these things make it far from an idealistic place to live, but what is more,  these things could have been prevented if its priorities were their people. America political choices are not only dangerous, but perverted. The main deterring factor for me, like most, is their involvement in the Middle East – an issue I feel quite strongly about. People might argue that the war is and was an attempt to prevent the spread of terrorism. I see it as a petty retaliation. What is worse, is that Australia deems it necessary to take part. Our nation has been lead to war by America; it’s been lead to social downfall, injustice and economic decline. To be fair, our country is not at fault - we have been misled, misguided like lambs to the slaughter.

At risk of sounding a bit dramatic, America, a nation once based on freedom, equality and economic leadership, is now a war funding, power hungry, tyrannical fiend. The George Bush administration, a flailing one at that, concocted a false struggle with the Iraqi people, a people with no naval force, no air force and no trained army. They claimed their war mongering was a response to the  9/11 incident, when in fact the most prominent nationality within the plane was Saudi Arabian. I believe this...man was disguising his greed for oil, and trying to cover for his premature clearance to the secret service already within Iraq. These are the actions of an egotistical man, who desperately sought an international display of power to detract from his weaknesses that included his inability to lead his country, his lack of intellect and failure to uphold basic civil liberties owed to the Iraqi people. Even though he is no longer in power, and America has come a long way since his rein, I cannot have faith in a country that would, at any point, support these actions, and drag other countries into their mess.

So why does Australia, insist on supporting this corrupt ideal? What has America done for us? They have assured us protection that, I will acknowledge, but protection from whom? We have yet to be attacked by ‘terrorists.’ Surely we are at more risk aiding them, or is it that we need protection from those who have sworn to protect us? America has proven to be untrustworthy already, ceasing 1.5 billion dollars foreign aid money in Egypt in favour of Israel, a known ally to America and its occupation. This occupation of Iraq, aided by this suspension of money was the result of suspected harbouring of Osama bin Laden, and yet 65,000 troops were deployed in 2009, an enormous increase from the original 9,500 in 2003 for the purpose of eliminating only 5,000 insurgents. The past is the past, but it is these actions in the past that have consequences today, and that are not easily forgotten.

I doubt the war we have been cunningly led to is something that the Australian government envisioned. Always in the shadow of America’s cloak, our country suffers as do those in the Middle East. Our soldiers toss families into the streets, when families in Australia already there. Our soldier’s kill and control on command of America, when Australia crime rate is still way too high, and yet we continue to solve matters in which we have no invested interest, 13,386 kilometres away. Since occupation of the Middle East, 32 soldiers have died; and several more have been injured by our countries insatiable thirst for America’s approval. Whether approval is another 32 deaths or another 2.2 billion dollars for weapons better used to eliminate illiteracy or solve the housing crisis. This cost of human life and safety has perverted morals we, as a nation, have clung to. Mateship, pride and intolerance have been twisted into a financial whirlwind that has been detrimental to our society and our reputation. The United States Government are a people of same circumstances who have continued to ignore these moral values in favour of a blood-stained profit.

“The enemy is people we know very well and people we can identify with, the enemy is a system that wages war when it is profitable.” 
                                                                                 - James Madison, War Veteran.

This got a little heated, my apologies. I do have a personal investment in the war, it would not have been appropriate to be as opinionated as I have, without reason. I would also like to make note that I’m not implying everyone in America is evil, I am simply saying that the government, was, and still is to a certain degree, corrupt and have yet to set their priorities straight. I simply don’t approve of their set of ethics when it comes to war, and the almost, exasperated effort, to pull the army out.

For too long has America deceived us, his flock like a shepherd, leading us toward a mirage of water. For too long he has gathered the lambs with his crook, and carried them in his cunning bosom, and for too long has he gently lead those that are with young. A true wolf in sheep’s clothing.

-Shannen