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The oppressed of the world

The oppressed of the world

Author: Dr M S Jillani
Publication: The News
Date:
URL: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=17310

[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra: In what way is the essential message of the author any different from that of the Islamic terrorists?]

Like most Muslims around the world, one, after 9/11, had become convinced of the existence of a well-conceived international conspiracy to destroy Muslim states, subjugate Muslim populations mentally and economically, poison Muslim youth by injections of depraved cultural practices, rob Muslim nations of their possessions, especially oil, and exploit their physical assets to benefit the west.

But the main onslaught against the Muslims in this region started in March after the visit of President Bush to New Delhi. Statements from Washington after this visit contained open threats to the Muslims, which this administration had rarely done before. History shows that Afghanistan had become a target of the US because it had fostered a force so effective that it defeated a superpower. Iraq always attracted foreign aggression due to the existence of the world's second largest reserves of oil beneath its soil. The new threats must be pointed towards new quarries with some similar significance. But the targets, without mistake, are all Muslims wherever they live.

The present campaign against the Muslims is based on historical developments since the advent of Islam. The fact is that the Jews and Christians never accepted Islam as a major religion nor believed in the Prophet of Islam (PBUH). The Muslims were tolerated as warriors and conquerors to start with, then as traders and after the 17th century as slave labour. The Christian colonialists never treated them as superior or even equal to other local populations, in spite of their belief in one God and many rituals similar to those of the Christians and the Jews. A historical analysis would confirm that Christian monarchs and their armies looked at Muslim invaders and defenders of Muslim territories as a force to reckon with and equal, if not superior to, Christian armies. As such they have always remained suspicious of the power of Muslim countries and their intentions.

Powerful Muslim empires in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa convinced European nations of the Muslim potential to fight hard, vanquish its adversaries and then govern the territories rather well. The First World War and the defeat of Turkey as an ally of Germany provided Christian countries of the west with an opportunity to break the Muslim empire into small territories, enfeebling the Muslims militarily, economically and politically. The Muslims fell into depression and this state of mind was taken advantage of fully by the western "powers" (some only fractions of the Muslim countries in size). They managed to bring Muslim countries under their influence and consolidate their grip to become colonial masters of Asia and Africa.

The situation changed after the Second World War dramatically as practically all colonies around the world were freed, ostensibly to let them become the masters of their destiny. The real fact, however, was that colonial powers no longer had the capacity to rule their colonies due to the ravages of war. The loss of colonies, however, was replaced by maneuvers to keep the new nations under the thumb of their erstwhile colonial masters. However, the colonialists also had realized that they could no longer afford physical presence of their armies and offices in these far-off lands except for trade and technological exchanges.

This gap was filled by the United States as it had the resources. It adopted the policy of interfering in every hullabaloo around the globe to help "troubled" countries. But it is no coincidence that the majority of such "troubled" countries -- except Korea and Vietnam -- had sizeable Muslim populations or they were a party to the disputes.

In case of Palestine, the "allies" thrust a dagger into the body of a Muslim territory, displacing hundreds of thousand persons. These countries were provided military and economic assistance which was used mostly to create a pro-west lobby. It inevitably resulted in deadly polarisation. The present candidates for US "generosity" are Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, etc. which would be extended generous "assistance" after their war with terrorists threatening Israel and its "allies" is over. Afghanistan, Iraq and their allies in the "war on terror" are already receiving aid. In the process these countries will be divided into hard-line groups and factions, which will weaken them for all times to come.

The most disturbing aspects of the current situation are the naked Israeli aggression against Lebanon with unashamed US support and the designs against Iran after its refusal to accept the European Union's proposals. Israel's action anyway is bound to give birth to more lethal outfits like Al Qaeda. Other problems include the sudden deterioration of Indo-Pak relations after the bombing incident in Mumbai and deaths in Kashmir, the attempt to ignite sectarian strife in Pakistan after the killing of Sunni scholars in April and the assassination of a top Shia scholar on July 14, the worsening law and order situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, a marked decline in the popularity of America in the Muslim countries and domestic pressures on the Bush administration. These developments could start a full-fledged war in the region with concentration on the Middle East. Frontline states like Pakistan and some Central Asian Republics will find themselves in the middle of it all for no fault of their own. Pakistan must be ready for such an eventuality.

All the saber-rattling by the United States -- including its immoral support to the Israeli aggression in Lebanon -- is aimed at destroying or containing Islam and the Muslims. What makes the situation grave is that people in the Muslim countries are far more vulnerable today than they were during the times of the Crusades. The war machines have become more lethal and the emergence of a powerful media and more subtle propaganda techniques have reduced the underdeveloped countries to the position of pawns in the games played by the big powers that do not possess even an iota of morality, sincerity or honour. The poor nations being aware of the savagery and ferocity of "pre-emptive" attacks by the "allies" do not dare complain to international bodies which, anyway, have always proved useless if the big powers are a party.

The world situation as a result is marked by an astonishing degree of helplessness and dismay. The realisation that there is no force in the world to compel the big powers to change their objectives or mend their ways deepens the gloom. The message in such a situation is clear. There have to be new groupings of the oppressed and plundered nations of the world as the spirit behind the post-World War II organisations has grown weak. These new bodies should think of new ways of cooperation for economic, technological and political revival of the oppressed world besides bracing themselves to meet threats from the "predator states". Domestically, each nation should do some soul-searching, shed dependence on others and become self-sufficient. They must have an integrated national policy for reconstruction without the help of international bodies that are floated and patronised by the big powers. Would somebody give it a thought?

The writer is a former federal secretary with an academic background in Economics and Sociology. Email: jillani2@comsats.net.pk


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