Since the tragic incident of September 11, with the amount of press coverage, the USA has glorified Al-Quida to a status of super-power terrorist organization that could, not only take on the USA but also the entire world.

The never ending reports on how Al-Quida planned to strike unthinkable targets around the world, the endless analysis by the security experts, the shrill shrieks of Tony Blair and gravelly rabble rousing by George Bush have all but created a simple question in the minds of people – “where was this outfit all along?”  Was this a giant that the intelligence agencies failed to recognize?  If so, shame on the intelligence agencies.  Were these agencies advised by their masters to turn a Nelson’s eye on them?  If so, shame on their masters.

When the Kobe Earthquake flattened Japan’s industrial infrastructure, Japan did not take it as an affront on its earthquake preparedness.  The analysts and press did not conclude that the rest of the world had no hopes of coping with earthquakes in the future as Japan; the country that is most prepared against earthquakes itself was caught in unawares.

But, USA did exactly the opposite on facing the September 11 incident.  USA became despondent, lost its confidence in existing peacefully with itself whilst protecting from these predatory attacks and declared that the world has become an unsafe place.  With its chief stooge UK in tow, it went about creating a monster out of Al-Quida.  They declared that they would make the world a safe place by hunting down this monster.

In terms of raw facts, the outfit, Al-Quida was a rag tag and bobtail army that operated in the poorest of the poorest countries in the world.  Majority of its recruits were uneducated fanatics with little or no individual economic power.  Its leadership, besides the much publicized Bin-Laden is virtually nonexistent.  Yet, USA through its singular self-expression of hurt-pride has created a bogeyman in Al-Quida and propelled this non-descript organization to everlasting historical glory.

More powerful and destructive terrorist outfits such as PLO of yesteryears, LTTE of recent years and Chechnya Rebels of the present were never accorded this stardom despite their telling success as terrorist outfits.

The then PLO, murdered Israeli athletes in Munich, carried out bombing and hijacking with metronomic regularity but still the organization was never hoisted to any heights let alone to the same heights of Al-Quida.  The world handled the PLO problem realistically.  It considered its fiery antics as an expression of irate and betrayed mob that wants to be heard and the West by its very free and unfettered lifestyle was a sitting duck for such expressions.

Gadaffi who ordered the Lockabire bombing, was declared a terrorist and his palace was bombed but never honored as threat to humanity. 

Iran which, humbled USA by taking 54 of its embassy staff as hostage for 444 days and released them on a bribe of 3 billion dollars, funded countless terrorist outfits in Lebanon, engaged in state sponsored terrorist attacks on Shah and Rushdie, was never accorded this exalted status.

LTTE was the bloodiest strain of terrorists.  They were very organized; well equipped and well trained – often by the retreating terrorist organizations like PLO – was always dismissed as extremist political outfit.

Chechnya Rebels who thumbed the nose of Russians could never earn any stardom.  Countless terrorist outfits that have claimed over 100,000 Indian lives in the last ten years have not even been recognized as terrorists let alone be accorded a star status.

Saddam, whose only mistake was to invade Kuwait like how USA invaded Granada or Panama was the only one who came close to the exalted status of Al-Quida.

In what way Saddam’s Iraq was different from the Communist China?  China which, overran vast parts of Northern India in 50s, slaughtered helpless Tibet, carried out Tinneman Square massacre, shot down USA’s plane in international waters, stole USA’s nuclear secrets, continues to maintain one of the most appalling human rights records in the world, not only gets away without any reprimands but is rewarded with the best friend status by USA.

How could Saddam and Bin-Laden achieve such a status whilst all their equally culpable peers and predecessors were dismissed as minor irritants.

Humbling by terrorists was never a new thing for USA.  It was humiliated by the hostage crisis in Iran, it was irritated when its commercial planes were blown down by Libya, it was shamed when its best of battleships was sunk by a bunch of armature terrorists – but USA took all of it in its stride. 

But how come September 11 episode, has become such an affront to their psyche that they had to overreact to this terrorist outfit?

To understand this, one needs to review the contemporary US history.  Whenever a strong President rules USA or when its economy is strong, USA takes affronts on its sovereignty as expressions of jealousy rather than as an attack.  In a sense USA took pride every time it was attacked and wore it as a badge of honor as it signaled to the world that it is the greatest and the most ideal place in earth and people who are unable to bear with its greatness were pelting stones at it. 

When the weakling Carter was ruling (economy was doing good though) or when the ultra strong Ronald Regan was at the helm, the then terrorist attacks were treated as mozzie bites and the outfits that perpetrated them were not even considered as worth dignifying with a fight.

In early 90s, the USA was dying to establish a new geopolitical in the Middle East especially after the demise of the Soviet Union.  A weak US President in Bush Sr coupled with a faltering American economy after the roaring 80s under Regan, Bush was in real need to show the world who the boss was and spur the sagging American economy.  Saddam’s misadventure could not have come in better time for Bush and he fought the war.  To legitimatize the war, he demonized Saddam and elevated him to new heights.

Ten years later when his son with a personality of a buffoon, inherited the throne with yet another cycle of sagging economy, he was in desperate need of a war to shore himself and the economy.  If not for Al Quida, he would have created a new bogeyman from somewhere.  Thanks to his stars, the bunch of loonies tried their tricks in a very coordinated manner on September 11 causing the great tragedy.  And Mr. Bush had his new villain readily made for him. 

After bombing the poorest of the poorest country in the world for months, Mr. Bush got nothing, neither the elusive leader Bin Laden nor a convincing proof that the outfit was worth the chase.  In short, the attack was all but turned into a damp squib.  Now Mr. Bush needs a new enemy to revive his pride and spur his economy. So, now he has set Saddam’s face on the crosshairs.

Unfortunately the cronies of Uncle Sam now started blaming everything on Al-Quida, as if to boost Al-Quida’s sagging image.  Australia, a nondescript island in southern hemisphere suddenly declared that Al Quida and Bin Laden in particular are after them.  A bomb blast in Bali was promptly attributed to Al Quida.  FBI swooped on Bali and decreed that it was Al Quida’s work.  Indonesia is infested with armed militias many of which are cross with Australia for its role in liberating East Timor.  But Mr. Bush declared that it was the handiwork of Bin Laden and therefore Bin Laden’s it was! 

One wonders if Mr. Bin Laden would ever think of Australia and turn his fragile organization’s limited resources in attacking that remote country instead of training his guns on the chief stooge of USA, the Great Britain or other high profile targets in Europe.

Thanks to Bush, now even a child in kindergarten when beaten by its buddy could blame Bin Laden and Al-Quida and Mr. Bush would rally to support it.  If only Mr. Bush can create a proof that Saddam and Bin Laden are friends or even accomplices then world would be Bush’s oyster.  He could go merrily fighting as many new wars he want and keep trying out new weapons on impotent enemies.

Bush does not quite grasp the monstrosity he has created.  He has legitimatised invading a country and bombing them to stone ages when it can be categorized as ‘war on terror’.  Tomorrow India can invade Pakistan, Australia can attack Indonesia, Israel can annihilate Palestine and literally any country can attack another as long as they can give a cogent story that they are fighting terrorism.  He has legitimatised state sponsored terrorism – the very reason that made his predecessors declare Iran as terrorist nation - when he ordered killing Saddam by any means and authorized liquidating 25 terrorists.  With these actions, Bush has earned the right to call himself as Ayotholla George Bush.

I wish the US economy picks up for the better of the world.  Lest consider this unsavory situation where Bush invades Iraq, deposes Saddam and still the US economy does not pick and who will Bush go after?