Rumsified:Al-Basoos war general [Archives:2006/921/Opinion]
By: Atif Awad
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced in a press conference that the War on Terror will last 40 years. He asked U.S. legislators to provide $70 billion for this purpose (it is understood that this is only the first installment).
In the old Arab legacy, many wars erupted between tribes, lasting as long as Rumsfeld mentioned or longer. One that continued 40 years is known in Arab history as the Al-Basoos War. Al-Basoos was the name of a famous she-camel known for its speed in camel racing, which Arabs did in those days. The tribe organizing the race ambushed Al-Basoos so the tribe that owned it would lose. The plot was discovered and war erupted between the two tribes, continuing for 40 years. Many people from the two tribes and their allies died in the war.
This is what one of the pillars of the new Evangelical-Zionist Christian fundamentalism wanted – namely Rumsfeld – who also is the cornerstone in a U.S. administration that led two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is the same person who declared that Europe is growing old and should follow the United States, the spearhead of Western capitalist civilization. Despite the fact that Rumsfeld's announcement went unheeded by Arab media, it contains a much serious matter that should be considered. The first enemies in this war are Arabs and Muslims, despite the justification Rumsfeld and Western Zionism always claim – namely “fighting terror.”
The war that will last 40 years, as specified by Rumsfeld, is a Western American Zionist war against an enemy other than terrorism. The concreteness of such an enemy necessitated such a time period so Rumsfeld and his successors can defeat it. This enemy is none other than political Islamic groups around the world. Zionists then will be able to exchange toasts when their stubborn enemy is defeated.
According to current Arab-Islamic state of affairs, one can say that “Political Islam” is to dominate the Arab political arena. It has proven itself an emerging power after resolving its conflicts, which have been present since the establishment of its first organized factions, namely the Muslim Brotherhood movement in 1928.
This Arab political trend has established a new Islamic political language, as well as new generations of politicians dominating the scene that Rumsfeld will need 40 years of war to restrain.
Atif Awad is an Egyptian journalist and short story writer residing in Yemen.
——
[archive-e:921-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-02-16-p:opinion]
