THE WAR ON TERROR IS CREATING MORE TERROR
|| by RON PAUL || The interventionists will do anything to prevent Americans from seeing that their foreign policies are perpetuating terrorism and inspiring others to seek to harm us. The neocons know that when it is understood that blowback is real – that people seek to attack us not because we are good and free but because we bomb and occupy their countries – their stranglehold over foreign policy will begin to slip.
That is why each time there is an event like the killings in Paris earlier this month, they rush to the television stations to terrify Americans into agreeing to even more bombing, more occupation, more surveillance at home, and more curtailment of our civil liberties. They tell us we have to do it in order to fight terrorism, but their policies actually increase terrorism.
If that sounds harsh, consider the recently-released 2015 Global Terrorism Index report. The report shows that deaths from terrorism have increased dramatically over the last 15 years – a period coinciding with the “war on terrorism” that was supposed to end terrorism.
According to the latest report:
Terrorist activity increased by 80 per cent in 2014 to its highest recorded level. …The number of people who have died from terrorist activity has increased nine-fold since the year 2000.
The world’s two most deadly terrorist organizations, ISIS and Boko Haram, have achieved their prominence as a direct consequence of US interventions.
Former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Michael Flynn was asked last week whether in light of the rise of ISIS he regrets the invasion of Iraq. He replied, “absolutely. …The historic lesson is that it was a strategic failure to go into Iraq.”
He added, “instead of asking why they attacked us, we asked where they came from.”
Flynn is no non-interventionist. But he does make the connection between the US invasion of Iraq and the creation of ISIS and other terrorist organizations, and he at least urges us to consider why they seek to attack us.
Likewise, the rise of Boko Haram in Africa is a direct result of a US intervention. Before the US-led “regime change” in Libya, they just were a poorly-armed gang.
Once Gaddafi was overthrown by the US and its NATO allies, leaving the country in chaos, they helped themselves to all the advanced weaponry they could get their hands on. Instead of just a few rifles they found themselves armed with rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns with anti-aircraft visors, advanced explosives, and vehicle-mounted light anti-aircraft artillery. Then they started killing on a massive scale. Now, according to the Global Terrorism Index, Boko Haram has overtaken ISIS as the world’s most deadly terrorist organization.
The interventionists are desperate to draw attention from the fact that their policies contribute to terrorism. After the Paris attacks, neocons like former CIA director James Woolsey actually pinned the blame on NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden! He claimed that because of Snowden’s revelations about NSA surveillance the terrorists were using sophisticated encryption. He even called for Snowden to be hanged because of it. But it was untrue: The Paris attackers did not use encryption, and other groups had used encryption long before the Snowden revelations.
Terrorism is increasing worldwide because of US and western interventionism. That does not mean that if we suddenly followed a policy of non-interventionism the world would become a peaceful utopia. But does anyone really believe that continuing to do what increases terrorism will lead to a decrease in terrorism?
Ron Paul is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and the leader of the pro-liberty, pro-free market movement in the United States. His weekly column – reprinted with permission – can be found here.
65 comments
“Terrorism is increasing worldwide because of US and western interventionism. That does not mean that if we suddenly followed a policy of non-interventionism the world would become a peaceful utopia.”
Typical Ron Paul babble.In one sentence he says interventionist America is to blame for terrorism.In the next he says even if we weren’t interventionists the world would NOT be peaceful aka….John Kerry I was against it before I was for it…etc….
Why waste space on this mentally deranged clown that is a liberal?
You, flip and GT talk A LOT like the terrorist who murdered those people, including a cop, at PP in Colorado Springs. He was from SC too. Hummmmmmmmmmm….
Contacting FBI/Uncle Sam…which is it?
They do talk exactly like these deranged killers.
What is it with you hateful, bigoted South Carolinians?
Beat ya to it.Had Thanksgiving dinner with a ‘fed’….my sister.
LMAO…I know we are winning when you degenerate American haters threaten free speech.
As far as PP this deranged killer showed more compassion to the staff of PP than the staff of PP shows babies.
What, does she work for the TSA?
Great. Now we have a One Word Legacy for George W Bush. Blowback. War Criminal is two words.
The gathering storm, appeasement is the only answer.
One major difference between Obama and Putin —
Putin draws his red lines with his enemy’s blood.
Obama draws his red lines with Michelle’s lipstick.
Damn that’s good. I’m going to have to steal that line from you.
Damn good.May I suggest Obama draws his red lines with Michelle’s napkin…..period…..she is a woman, right?
Hasn’t been confirmed, can’t start rumors.
I’ve always admired Stalin’s iron fist… Uncle Joe was a man’s man.
Ol’ Joe was perhaps a moderate compared to Iron Felix, the Saint of Bolshevism, who declared “systematic mass terror against the bourgeoisie and all its agents.”
How about the blowback from the hysteria that Republicans candidates are cooking up with there rhetoric against PP?
The republican party is creating domestic terrorists with their lies!
Uncle Sam/Contacting FBI…which is it?
“The gathering storm, appeasement is the only answer.”
For those who truly believe that “radical Islam” is what is driving the mess in the Middle East, there should be only one solution: total military domination of the entire region- Nagasaki/Hiroshima style.
Collateral damage is not just necessary, but vital. Vaporize the women & children along with their radical men/fighters.
For those that truly believe that radical Islam is spreading & the cause of the issues at hand and don’t believe that intervention is the issue(which are many here obviously), there is no other solution than the above. (and if you think there is, then tell us what it is)
I don’t want to hear from those that there should be any moderation in return because it would lead to nothing but another Vietnam, Iraq. N. Korea, etc. et al. (again, if you think otherwise, please let us know where/when in history it was otherwise/worked)
Have the stomach & decency to champion the final solution. You kill them, including the women & children, without mercy and ban their religion just like the US gov’t did in Japan.
Of course, Muslim’s make up 22% of the world so the fight will be far more widespread & larger compared to Japan which only had 3 or 4% of the world’s population at the time.
For those of us(like myself), that think the radial Muslim’s make up a small %/fraction of Muslim’s in the world- non-intervention(which is different than “appeasement”) makes complete sense.
Once you stay out of their affairs, like Reagan learned is the best course of action after Beirut- you can focus on the small minority of those that might try to continue hostilities by targeting them & their family. (unless of course, they are friends with the Bushes in which case they’ll be protected like the Bin Laden family)
But again, for those of you who believe that “Islam is the problem” you should be suggesting nothing but all out war/destruction with the elimination of their religion.
Ok, Ok, Ok, it’s all our fault.
Ok, so let’s say it’s all “their” fault.
What is your solution?
I don’t pretend to have a solution, that’s above my pay scale, just as it is yours. I will though, keep all options open.
It’s not “above my pay scale”. I’m grade above most asshats running DC.
You have no solution, fine. I think the solution is obvious for those who believe Islam is the problem.
Reagan had it right after Beirut IMO.
I don’t believe that Islam is the problem any more than I believe Christianity is the answer. I believe there are radicals on both sides and until both sides quash their own radicals it will continue to escalate.
I didn’t think you post anything as STUPID as this comment.Are Christians running around the world declaring was on Muslims and killing them by the tens of thousands?
If you believe Islam is no different than Christianity you are one sic soul.
ISIS has already executed thousands of Christians and forced thousands more to flee ancient Christian communities in northeastern Syria and western Iraq, notes the article, adding that the jihadists demand they either covert to Islam, pay an extortionate rate/tax, or face execution, while other Christians are crucified.
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/29/report-isis-crucified-tortured-thousands-christians-iraq-syria/
Don’t try to put words in my mouth, there is nothing as “STUPID” as you, get out of the basement once in awhile.
Have a nice day.
I don’t have to words in your mouth, Christ hating idiot.You posted it.
‘quash’ that up your sorry liberal/RINO ass.
Breitbart – that’s so freakin’ funny. Not Foreign Affairs, or BBC, or WaPo, or even Rural Ohio Weekly. Breitbart. Not saying your story isn’t true, but Breitbart. The Pulitzer of Crap.
You really are a sad,soul less human being….laugh at your own church (which I never believed you attend)….
The world hasn’t seen this kind of atrocity in generations,” he told CNN. He’s mostly correct. Although genocides have happened repeatedly throughout history, including famous genocides in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, as well as Cambodia, the genocide perpetrated against Christians and other minorities is extreme, partly because it is being gleefully publicized.
The terrorists who have invaded Mosul and other ancient Christian communities in Syria and Iraq have made music videos of themselves murdering civilians and captured soldiers. They are literally enjoying the act of killing and the fear and suffering experienced by others. This sadism may be the purest manifestation of evil witnessed since the Rape of Nanking during WWII.
Already, several images have emerged of Christian children beheaded by ISIS, merely for being Christian.
According to Arabo, women are being raped, then murdered, and men are being hanged. These are the people who were warned – convert to Islam of be put to the sword.
http://www.catholic.org/news/international/middle_east/story.php?id=56481
Let’s send pogo over there to report first hand what happens. Let those guys figure out how to deal with this ass clown.
“I don’t believe that Islam is the problem any more than I believe Christianity is the answer.”
Seriously, kudos to you. Most other Republicans don’t agree with you.
The thing is, if you accept that the radicals are not endemic, that they represent a truly small % of their population- you must consider non-intervention or you will continue to not pretend to “have a solution”.
You don’t have to “blame America” to stop poking the proverbial hornet’s nest.
lol…like your secular humanist,Christ hating brother idcmoron,YOU are the reason we have Obama and the decline of the moral/cultural foundations in this country.
“lol…like your secular humanist”
If you believe that, why are you laughing?
I am still not willing to take anything off the table unlike Most other Democrats.
I’m not really sure what Democrats believe on the whole situation or what they will/won’t take off the table.
Hell, I’m pretty sure that Hilliary is pretty war hawkish. In fact, possibly more so than Trump which is why the GOP is talking about supporting her over Trump if he wins the GOP nomination.
I think Hilliary and Trump are saying what whatever will get them the highest pole ratings, not unlike most politicians. It could be a difficult decision come next November, let’s wait and see what happens when the primaries are over and the general election campaign begins.
“I’m a grade above most asshats running DC.”
That doesn’t take much to accomplish, sir.
Valid point.
I live in Colorado Springs…..We don’t worry about ISIS, refugees or whatever, thousands of miles away. We have REAL terrorism in our city. We’ve had our second mass shooting by deranged religious nuts who are being radicalized by the hate speech coming from the Republican Party, it’s Presidential Candidates and the talking heads who support their views. Could we address the REAL homegrown terrorism problem in our country and why Dylan Roof and now Richard Dear are becoming radicalized and violent to the point innocent people are murdered in churches and good cops are murdered in the line of duty by these horrible people?
“I live in Colorado Springs”…everything on the internet is true.
In this case, it is.
Have any questions?
No questions other than, why come to an SC blog, are there none in Colorado to surf?
Everyone is too high to make any sense and even the Grand Turnip spells better.
Well, Trump said he has gotten hundreds of calls and “tweets” that claim they saw ragheads partying in New Jersey on 9/11 and as far as that lying draft-dodging sack of shit is concerned that’s enough for him.
I guess if hundreds of Trump supporters “tweeted” they saw Elvis fucking the Easter Bunny this weekend that would be enough proof as well
Like I said everything on the internet is true but then it was a video didn’t start on the internet.
There’s plenty of bullshit going around on both sides, wouldn’t you agree?
bon jour…
“There’s …. agree?” —- yes
The Easter Bunny and Elvis? I saw that.
Is it on YouTube?
So Elvis got a little cotton tail…..nice.
Did any ragheads or draft-dodgers show up?
The morning after Elvis’ daughter got engaged to Michael Jackson there were 3,125 sightings of him in Mississippi — everywhere guns were sold.
Obama became radicalized in Rev.Wrights church.Why he is trying to destroy America and believes climate change is his god,abortion is godly and ALL lives don’t matter…just BLACK lives…
Where did you become radicalized?
Now you say something? All the other doped up liberal or muslim wack-a-doo shootings, and stabbings and now you have something to say? I think religious or kool-aide soaked political whackos of all sides suck. I don’t wait on the “opposition side” like you do you panty shield. Are you happy now you have something to crow about? You’re just as bad as that dumbass.
The role of the Council of CONSERVATIVE [White] Citizens with Roof got covered over by the flag doings.
at least that groid dear wasted want have to pay for anymore abortions for his “girlfriend like he was payin anyway. i think he did a great fucking service. dear that is.
Blowback? Yes.,but it is because of success in Sinjar and other areas of northern Iraq and Syria.
IS is using terrier against the West because they are failing in Syria and Iraq. If we remove the pressure now, then they will just use the time to strengthen their possition in Syria and Iraq to destroy and separarate us from any freinds in the region. Then they return to attacking us.
The growth in terrorism is not due to US bombing, but to the spead of radical Islam. The connection that Paul makes between Libya and Book Haram is weak at best.
They don’t attack us because we are free or because we bomb them. They do it because of their apocalyptic radical Islamic ideology. Even if they backed away from attacking us if we withdrew, it would only be a temporary tactical move. They would just focus on any freinds we have left after abandoning them and resume attacking us from a stronger possition.
“The world’s two most deadly terrorist
organizations, ISIS and Boko Haram, have achieved their prominence as a
direct consequence of US interventions.”
Purposely, the leaders of these organizations want their followers and all possible recruits to focus their attention on the most recognizable social/ governmental entity in the the world. Make the US, and to a lesser extent, western Culture and its people, culture, and wealth the focus of their evil.
US and Western interventionists will always be blamed for the growth ISIS and Boko Haram. Islam has elevated Western people and Culture into a personification of what all Islamist should hate and therefore, try to eliminate these ‘infidels,’ by any means possible.
It is not so much as ‘what’ we have done, but who we are.
Interesting the Paul used the term “blowback.” Chalmers Johnson wrote a book on the same subject, first published in 2000 (Yes, BEFORE 9-11). As the book’s description reads: “The term “blowback,” invented by the CIA, refers to the unintended results of American actions abroad. In this incisive and controversial book, Chalmers Johnson lays out in vivid detail the dangers faced by our overextended empire, which insists on projecting its military power to every corner of the earth…” We are living with the “unintended results” today. it may take decades to overcome the mistakes of the past — meanwhile, many will die and billions of dollars will be squandered.
Ron Paul has always pointed out that “blowback” is a CIA term(just an “fyi”).
The CIA remains silent about him saying so because they know it’s true.
Neocon’s on the other hand, simply don’t give a shit. It’s just people/money thrown at their interventionist agenda. They bitch about money given to street bums while crying about needing more funding to Raytheon et al so we can drop more bombs over in the Middle East to “protect our country/freedom”.
It would all be so laughable if it wasn’t for the fact that many people on both sides of the political paradigm really believe that’s the truth.
“Blowback” is also a firefighter’s term, possibly lots older.
“back draft” ..??
Those who cheered as terrorists attacked: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/11/29/439659/Trump-Muslims-911-Kevin-Barrett
But but but, the neocons said we’d have a dozen permanent bases in Iraq to put down trouble in the whole region and the to-be-privatized Iraqi oil would pay for it and the American colonial-gove. . . I mean temporary viceroy would keep it all in order.
obama said there was a direct correlation between global warming and isis. im really starting to believe this genius. i think hes on to something
Ha! Too funny! This is all just smoke. As always, just follow the money. If the terrorists were not financed with $$ and arms, they would quickly fade away…