America and its Double Standards in the War on Muslim Extremism

9/11 was a defining moment in American history as a band of 19 terrorists hijacked 4 airliners for a nefarious mission. Two were crashed into the twin world trade towers in New York and another hit the Pentagon while a fourth failed in its mission as passengers, now alerted by satellite phones fought with the hijackers and plane crashed in a field.

Much as one sympathizes with the American predicament and the traumatic shock of a first ever attack on the American home in 250 years of American history one cant help feeling that it was something bound to happen.

If one saw the earlier Rambo movie of the battle against the soviets in Afghanistan, one will be appalled to read the movie ending with the words that it was a tribute to the brave mujahidin fighting the soviets or words to that effect. The dialogue and words are now deleted, but it shows that America is in the habit of nurturing and arming rebel groups which turn on their mentor the USA itself.

It unleashed a Hydra, a monster. Unlike unleashing a genie from a bottle, which on attaining his freedom grants you 3 wishes and becomes your slave, a Hydra is a monster that will devour you. The Americans thus failed to realize that true intent of hard line Islam followers who consider America ‘the great Satan’.

The double standards continue even now. Look at the way the USA has armed Pakistan. For what? Even the USA knows that Pakistan pays lip service to terror otherwise how could a man the most wanted terrorist in the world live on close to the Pakistan capital and again at stones throw from the Pakistan Military academy at Abbotabad?

The war in Iraq is another example. Here the USA has unleashed forces which were kept in check by Saddam Hussain who was no friend of Al Qaeda. Yet the USA removed Saddam and in the bargain shot itself in the foot. The double standards continue. The Americans are not overtly concerned about the Islamic terror movement in Kashmir, the terror attacks in the Russian republic of Chechnya and the Islamic movement for secession in the Chinese far west of Xinjiang.

This again is a short sighted policy and I remember President Bush asking for restraint in Chechnya! When these Islamic groups without regard to human life are spreading murder and mayhem with inspiration from Pakistan a US ally, this does sound hollow.

If America has to continue its world leadership it has to realize its responsibility. One should remember that people who stay in glass houses should not throw stones at others. You cannot have a selective fight on terror, otherwise another catastrophe at some stage may overtake America again.