The day after

Yesterday was 11 September. On that pivotal day five years ago, darkness fell upon the world. Brewing discontent spewed raw hatred into the capital of capitalism, New York. The serpent struck at the ankle of the colossus. The Twin Towers fell. In total 2,973 people were killed, including 246 on the four aeroplanes, 2,602 in New York City in the Towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon. A nation recoiled in horror and grieve. The world stood aghast.

Soon, vengeance followed shock and bewilderment, spreading with the poison from that venomous bite. The world moved one step closer to global confrontation. Chasms sprang open, gasping divides between cultures, religions and, more importantly, global economic interests.

Afghanistan was invaded, it's Taliban government deposed; replaced by a moderate, elected government. Importantly, the new government had the approval of US, UK and EU leadership, which also served to prop up security. Also noteworthy were the rich oil fields of neighbouring Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, with the prospects of an oil pipe line through Afghanistan, breaking the Russian influence over oil distribution from these regions [Guardian 2001]. The human death toll was hard to calculate. Some estimated the civilian death toll at over 3000 by the year 2002 [BBC].

Iraq was next, after spin doctors on both sides of the Atlantic did their part in whipping up support for an invasion. Saddam Hussein was toppled and his government replaced by an elected government. Amid rising sectarian violence, the new government carried the support of the US, UK and EU, to whose forces it owed it's continued existence. Interestingly, Iraq had the second largest proven oil reserves in the world, as reported in Global Policy. The cat was certainly out amongst the pigeons as far as gaining control over oil exploration in Iraq. The human cost was enormous - more than 100000 according to some studies.

So here we are today, the day after 11 September. Yesterday, we commemorated that dreadful day in 2001. Today, the US Embassy in Damascus has been attacked by terrorists, fortunately intercepted by Syrian security personnel. One security person lost his live. The irony of that incident is not lost upon the audience.

Today, the Taliban is resurging. Afghanistan is an imploding dust bowl, in the words of Peter Preston of The Guardian.

Today, the tensions over Iran is racing towards critical mass over that country's defiant stance on its nuclear research programme. Some reports indicate that Iran is bound to deploy dual-purpose installations [Global Security]. Yet, no conclusive evidence has been found to proof military intentions for the nuclear programme [Spacewar]. Meanwhile, Iran has the world's second largest natural gas reserves and fifth largest oil reserves, according to Global Security.

Today, the war on terror is raging unabated. Security is the name of the game, democracy the new gospel, pre-emptive strike the method of choice. In Lebanon they are still counting the bomblets from cluster bombing of civilian areas. Civilians casualties are stated at 1230 [Wikipedia]. Yet, the faceless enemy is still spinning on its evil axis. Coalitions of the willing are stretched to exhaustion. Officials and leaders are forever mincing words in search of more spin, votes and money for more wars.

Today, quietly in their back offices, the corporate leaders are counting their returns from the new empire of the wealthy. As with the British Empire of old, the public hunger for commodities and energy are fueling the endeavours of those who are willing, ambitious and greedy. As before, it is the common treadmill peddlers who pay the dearest price for these endeavours, the day after.