We went into the Iraq War in the name of liberty and justice for the world; freely killing citizens – just like our own citizens attacked on Sept. 11. We attacked a country that we thought threatened our territory with terrorists under the impression that al-Qaeda was supported by the government of Iraq. We took our troops into Yemen when our indispensable ally, Saudi Arabia, saw it as a threat.

Through our history, we make rash military decisions that are not justified. We use our powerful military as a call to duty and use this as our justification for getting involved in foreign countries to protect them. Behind the front of justice, our military can violate human rights in foreign countries. For peace, for freedom! Or maybe for wealth and oil.

When the ethnic groups of the Hutus began to attack the Tutsis and the country disintegrated into bloody massacres, we retreated. With the UN, we withdrew even though resources were plentiful because we didn’t want to dirty our hands with African blood. After the country was on the path to restoration and danger was no longer eminent, we immediately began to establish large factories and industrial compounds, set on reaping from the wealth of resources. When we benefit from involvement, we jump on the opportunity, but as soon as things take a turn for the worse, we run away. Are we worthy protectors if we are invested for personal profit? As peace-keepers of the world, now is our time to decide if we are motivated for justice, or personal gain. Now is the time for us to step up and fully embody the role by serving all countries in need, or to back down and admit we are not so mighty.

Marley Weaver-Gabel

Durango