Through the eyes of the enemy

Everyone thinks that they are doing what is right.

Most people do not start their day hell bent on ruining the lives of others. The same is true for governments and groups. We

feel a responsibility to defend our own and most will give their lives, and takes the lives of others, to do that.

Sense a political conversation coming up? You sensed right.

Thinking about tuning out? Not yet! As much as I love a fuzzy article about pug puppies in costume or the best places to travel on a budget, this stuff matters.

We are in the middle of a heated era. The war on terrorism has consumed much of the twenty first century political (and

cultural) scene and that does not look like it will change any time soon.

It is comforting to assume that every life taken by American soldiers is justified, that we are the heroes and “they” are

the bad guys 100 percent of the time, unfortunately one man’s terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

 From the American perspective, terrorists are the epitome of evil. Slaughtering innocent people, wreaking havoc on our land

and endangering our security. While these things are true, we must remember that many of the terrorist organizations that

pose the biggest threat today exist largely because of us.

There are always two sides to a story and most Americans find it difficult to see the perspective of those that we consider

our enemy.

 It is easier to justify a war when we see ourselves as victims rather than equal contributors. It is charmingly patriotic to

believe that the U.S. is targeted because of our freedom, democracy and wealth, rather than as a result to something that we

did to enrage another country or people.

A Department of Defense study in 1997 found that “Historical data show a strong correlation between US involvement

in international situations and an increase in terrorist attacks against the US.”

 Similarly, the individuals responsible for the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 sent a letter to the New York Times

claiming that “this action was done in response for the American political, economical and military support to Israel,

the state of terrorism, and to the rest of the dictator countries in the region.”

From the American perspective, we are defending international peace, homeland security and doing the hard tasks that

must be done to protect democracy.

However to the countries that we have invaded, unwelcome, and the families of the people that we have killed in the

name of “justice” or “freedom” or “democracy,” we are the terrorists.

Our soldiers pride themselves on laying down their lives for the freedom of the American public. Ironically the same is true for

many the terrorist groups that we deal with today. They feel that America has wronged them and their people, and they are

seeking revenge, as we did following 9-11.

It is easy to label ourselves heroes, doing the hard things to make the world a better place. But when it comes to the war on

terrorism this is a tainted perspective.

The reality is that we have gone where we were not welcome and often times don’t belong.

In doing that we have saved innocent people … and killed innocent people.

We have aided nations in need… and caused destruction and pain for many nations.

There are always two sides to a story, even in the case of the war on terrorism. Both sides are wrong in the same way that

both sides are right. It all comes down to perspective and even though it may be unpleasant, it is necessary to look at every

situation through the eyes of the enemy.