Oh, The Places You’ll Go

With all apologies to my wonderful Writing for Online Media professor, Nick Leshi, this will be my last blog post. While I truly enjoyed the experience, and wouldn’t have traded either this opportunity to exercise my writing skills or this chance to share Middle Eastern news and commentary, I simply will not have time to continue this blog as I begin my packed summer schedule.

I find it fitting that I began this exercise as the Middle East began to deal with major changes, and I am ending it as the impacts of another history-changing event unfold.

When I started, Tunisia and Egypt were completely overturning their government. Leaders everywhere were taken aback as slowly, surrounding countries began to follow suit; even now, we are still watching as Libya continues to fight for its freedom from Qaddafi, Syria fights for a break from oppressive traditions, and Yemen fights for civil rights. Truly, its been simply awe-inspiring to watch.

Now, I leave this blog one week after another major event: Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy Seals and C.I.A. operatives. 

Before I begin my main discussion, I want to say that I applaud Obama’s decision to keep the photographic evidence from the public eye. As a journalism student, it pains me a little to say this, yet I think the decision keeps the death from crossing the line from justice to vengeance. This was a classy move by a president facing a lot of criticism and a lot of unsolicited criticism.

Photo Courtesy of osamabinladen

A fake photograph of Osama's body.

Almost immediately after the news broke, a huge debate (in which I have partaken) began over the degree to which one can celebrate the death of a man, as evil as he may be. 

Personally, I am proud of our troops, and I celebrate their victory. Bin Laden’s death was a goal, but not the only goal, of the war in Afghanistan. The goal continues to be an end to terrorism; we are certainly not there, yet we were able to take down one of the biggest threats to United States security our generation has ever faced. 

I was not in New York or New Jersey on September 11, 2001, but I still remember getting into the car that day after school, and my mom telling me the news. I didn’t understand the gravity until the night, when the number finally hit me. Three thousand. Nearly half my town. Nearly 15 times the size of my grammar school. Gone.

Photo Courtesy of Sister72

Light beams representing the Twin Towers, one of the many ways the September 11 attacks were memorialized.

Still, what I am celebrating is not this man’s death. In an ideal world, he would be alive and in front of a jury or tribunal, but in an ideal world he would have never have orchestrated these attacks. Thus, I can only celebrate that the closest thing we can have to justice has been achieved. The bin Ladens are in my thoughts, as it is never easy to lose a family member, but most of all the families of the victims of September 11 are in my thoughts, because no one should have to lose a family member in an act of senseless violence.

Of course, as I end nearly every post, who knows what happens next; even now, one week later, no one knows how much to beef up security, how much to trust Pakistan, or really much of anything. 

Most recently, the Al Qaeda announced that it plans to carry our revenge against the United States; I obviously hope it does not, as that simply perpetuates the cycle of violence. In order to prevent this retribution, however, what needs to happen? More drones? More raids? More people are going to end up killed, and this is tragic, yet I don’t know how to ultimately stop all deaths, and I don’t think any military commander I could talk to could give me a guaranteed answer either.

The Middle East has produced a lot of violence over the recent years. Historically however, the countries are rich in histories of prosperous empires and lavish  kingdoms, with the pharaohs of Egypt and the riches of Persia. Conversely, our “civilized” world has historically brought about the Trail of Tears and the Inquisition. No area is perfect at an given time.

Photo Courtesy of Celeste Small

The pyramid and the sphinx, two of the many treasures offered by ancient Egypt

Thus, let us aim for peace in the Middle East, and in the meantime, remember that each Middle Eastern person is an individual worthy of respect, and that each country is a territory with its own priceless contributions to the world but also with its own shortcomings. These countries deserve respect and dignity, and I wish them the prosperity their citizens deserve.

The New and Tragic Definition of ‘Spring Weekend’

The last time I read about an offensive, it was in a rather boring article about hockey. Truly, as Fordham’s Spring Weekend comes to a close, launching an offensive seems much more descriptive of the intramural softball game I have tonight than of a deadly ban of insurgents.

Yet, the Taliban has an offensive season as well, and as it launches its newest one, world leaders are cringing while still attempting to prevent a major a loss of life. 

As of Sunday, May 1, the Taliban had already killed 11 people across Afghanistan. While both sides have promised to keep civilians out of the conflict, the U.N.’s chief of staff in Afghanistan has admitted that it is struggling to make sure that civilians are not affected by the strife between the militant group and the government.

The Taliban has further added a tragic new element to its operations, as it has introduced children bombers; on Sunday, a 12-year-old boy killed four civilians and injured another 12 in a suicide bombing. Also disturbing, while military leaders have been worried about increased violence with the start of spring for awhile, there was not the usual lull over the winter, meaning that the violence has overall escalated. Furthermore, as officials are preparing for the gradual withdrawing of troops, they are worrying about how to keep the violence at bay. 

In fact, the Obama administration is still uncertain as to how many troops will be coming home in July; according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General David Petraeus, who commands the troops in Afghanistan, has not yet offered his recommendations.

Photo Courtesy of NDU Audio Visua

General Petraeus is still deciding how many U.S. troops to pull out of Afghanistan in July.

While The Washington Post and ABC News conducted a poll which displayed that more Americans disprove rather than approve of Obama’s handling of the war in Afghanistan (including his injection of another 30,00 troops into the country), this offensive, as well as a massive prison break that released almost 500 prisoners on April 25 including Taliban fighters, show that Obama has his hands full in determining how to proceed.

Photo Courtesy of isafmedia 

Children talking with the military in Kandahar, where almost 500 inmates recently broke out of a prison.

On one level, the United States got its self into this mess and should clean it up. On another, at some point the military has to cut its losses and admit that it is, still, a separate country and it does need to stand on its own two legs. On yet another, if this is not a humanitarian crisis, the United States needs to prioritize and decide why it is still involved, while if it is such a crisis, other countries may want to join in to aid citizens. Finally, there is the question of how much of this escalation of violence the United States caused in the first place. 

Eventually, the United States does need to leave, but it is truly heart-wrenching to watch this country be plagued with such disturbing violence. Not having any semblance of knowledge on military tactics, I cannot try to discuss when the best time to pull out would be, or if an American presence would deter the Taliban (though, given that they certainly want us to leave and thus troops are one of their targets, our leaving could statistically reduce violence). 

The part of me that is horrified that a 12-year-old boy killed himself and four others wants the United States to stay and end the violence once and for all; the practical side of me that wants Afghanistan to stand up and thrive through its own institutions and actions wants the United States to pull out and give them their opportunity. In this case, where I am so conflicted and so uncertain that I suppose I have to trust Petraeus and hope for the best.

Still, I wish the Afghanis as beautiful and carefree a spring as Fordham is lucky enough to currently be seeing.