Last night Mars made its closest run by the earth in thousands of years. I am not a scientist, but no one told us if the earth’s orbit brought it close to Mars or vice versa. In other words, who’s the culprit? To many it might not make a difference, but if orbits and distances are to be applied down here, it does make a difference.
The sun of our world today is the USA. Its gravity, pull, heat, power, light, and daisy cutters are undeniable. All the little things which occupy the UN, from East Timor to Russia, are in one way or another orbiting this giant. Saudi Arabia, for example, is now taking a tour of the umbra (or penumbra, whichever is darker), while Iraq is closer than Mercury to the fiery object. Stranger things have happened, so a head-in-the-sand attitude will not gain those who practice it anything.
If we compare the USA to the ancient Rome it resembles, the US is less imperialistic and more mercantile in approach. Also, we do not have to wait on any praetorian guard to announce the next emperor. Elections will do that for us — the latest one notwithstanding. If you trash the president, your tongue won’t be cut off. If you engage logically, you will find those on the American side who will listen and argue civilly — again, Fox News notwithstanding.
Many Americans I engage with keep wondering why America should always come and save people from themselves. Simply put, it is Rome’s duty to itself to keep the provinces supplying grain (oil) and to keep the peace.
This is part of a superpower’s daily routine. Another less obvious reason is that many a troublemaker was either put there by America or allowed to thrive under American protection. Now that the tables are turned, America cannot say it is none of its business. Superpowers have their darlings. Rome had Herod and America has Israel. Rome fought the Jewish sicarri (terrorists) and America is fighting the Palestinians.
Israel is aware of its privileged position: It has just issued its own deck of cards for wanted people. How quaint! Like father like son. It also got $9 billion in loan guarantees. Lots of lollipops that money could buy.
Superpowers, however, are not immune to ideological madness. Seneca, Nero’s tutor and a philosopher in his own right, once sacrificed a goat to his sacred spring and poured the blood into the spring he drank from. Is America pouring blood into the oil spring it is drinking from? I should think it would be more logical for America to dredge the scum that has accumulated on top of such springs if it really wants to serve its purposes and help others help themselves.
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- Arab News Opinion 28 August 2003
