To most people, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden are nothing but simple thugs. To those of us who remember the history of the Middle East, they were friends. I remember a time, not so long ago, when America praised these two men. Maybe those were simpler times, but I don’t think so.
It was many years ago, a hundred or so, when we first learned of the black gold beneath their lands. It was many years ago that our Masons began to study their Koran. The year was 1928 when our oil industry moved into their land. Since that time, the Middle East has been in high demand.
Many years later, as the Soviet Union moved into Afghanistan and Iran, we sent Iraq and Saudi Arabia to defend the land. We armed Saddam and Saudi’s son, Osama, with American weapons with which to force the Russians from the land. Many men of Arab descent were lost during the 10 years of battle they fought, but they were successful in the end.
It was only then that those men realized the devastation their people had endured. As America moved in to seize their reward, they stood and said, “No, we will not give up so easily what so many have died to defend.”
They demanded compensation and so a line was drawn in the sand.
Perhaps one day we will all realize that good exists in every man.
Jamie Beaulieu, Jay
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