Mr. Bush, no individual and no nation is invincible forever. Unless you
stop creating enemies where none exist, and fuelling the flames of
anti-Americanism around the world, then the day will come when you too will
be challenged by a merciless opponent... and another... and another.
Defenders of truth and justice
My heroes in this murky mess are those who boarded a London bus en route
for Baghdad, led by Kenneth Nicholls O'Keefe, a former marine, where they
will willingly serve as human shields. Keefe said on BBC World's Hard Talk
that he wanted to look an Iraqi in the eye and tell him that there are
Westerners who care and he's one of them.
The incredibly honest and authentic O'Keefe reminds me of Lawrence of
Arabia who in the movie attempts to explain how he is very different from
the 'fat' people in England. Lawrence succeeded and garnered the trust of
the Arab tribes only to be stabbed in the back by the British
establishment. O'Keefe will, no doubt, share a similar fate.
In the same way that Lawrence turned his back on his own and went into
obscurity, the former marine already has. He took the step of relinquishing
his American citizenship because, as he says, he could no longer swear
allegiance or pay taxes to the country of his birth.
The Greenpeace guys and girls on the Rainbow Warrior, presently anchored in
the Solent blocking Britain's warships from sailing off get my vote, along
with those protestors who marched to Fairford RAF base in Gloucestershire
demanding inspection of Britain's weapons of mass destruction. I wish I had
half their courage and commitment. I can only glue my fingers to the keys
and hope that someone out there is listening.
Come on Americans and Britons. Let's see your mettle. Our grandfathers and
great-grandfathers who swallowed mud in the World War I trenches have been
designated 'the finest generation'. Let's show the world that we are just
as fine and we will not allow egomaniacal greedy leaders to endanger the
very existence of humanity in our name.
Linda Heard is a specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She can be
reached at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
