George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 6

“Hahaha! Don’t worry, brother!”

Mullah Mohammed Omar raised his coffee cup high, promising Osama bin Laden unconditional protection.

Mullah Mohammed Omar. He was the supreme leader of Afghanistan, a fanatical believer and dictator of Islamic fundamentalism, and claimed to be the Caliph [the chief Muslim religious and civil ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad]. In particular, Islamic fundamentalism forced a coercive lifestyle based on the Quran on the people, and the extent was excessive.

He banned secular things like TV and music. On the one hand, he judged men’s appearances and beat them with whips for having untidy hair. He emphasized that women should only be tools for bearing children and stoned them to death for breaking the law.

In fact, he was a pseudo who had not even completed the madrassa [Islamic religious school]. Therefore, he was not actually a Caliph.

Even if they weren’t, they were clearly pseudos. The Quran should be something that worships Allah and enriches the spiritual world, but it is driving people into starvation, hunger and corruption, and is being used for dictatorship.

“Thank you, brother.”

Osama bin Laden responded by raising his coffee cup.

In Asia, coffee was ingrained with the idea of Western capitalism, but in fact, the origin of coffee could be said to be in Islamic culture. Wine, the most popular drink in the West, was not accepted in Islamic culture because the Quran strongly prohibited all alcohol, saying that it clouded the mind.

To them, coffee meant awakening, and grapes meant sleep.

“This place is the graveyard of empires. No matter how strong they are, they cannot uproot our true faith and national character. Like in Vietnam, anti-war sentiment will boil over, and he will soon be ousted. We have time.”

The graveyard of empires. It was a title that the history of Afghanistan had proven.

When the Mongols invaded, they dominated Afghanistan with their cavalry, but when the time came, they had to return.

When the British invaded, they subjugated Afghanistan with their navy and guns, but when the time came, they had to return.

When the Soviet Union invaded, they occupied Afghanistan with their tanks and armored vehicles, but when the time came, they had to return.

In any war, Afghanistan was immortal.

“As you say.”

Osama bin Laden was initially relieved to hear that. He was by no means a fool. He graduated from a prestigious university with bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and administration, and was the leader of al-Qaeda, the world’s most powerful and extensive terrorist organization.

With his excellent brain, he knew better than anyone that staying as he was now was not a good choice. But he couldn’t move. There was no better alternative or fallback. If he fled to another country, he could buy some more time, but they would soon yield to the United States and hand him over.

Moreover, the title of the graveyard of empires from Mohammad Omar’s mouth gave him the illusion that it was a blessing and grace given by Allah to protect him.

“These days, young people don’t read the Quran properly. It wasn’t like this in the old days.”

“I totally agree. Their pronunciation is terrible.”

“Look at this city. No matter how hard I try, it eventually escapes my eyes and can’t seem to escape from corruption and lust!”

Mohammad Omar was so angry that he couldn’t help but shed tears.

“Don’t worry. In the end, justice will prevail. If you continue to act so justly and righteously, Allah will soon be impressed by your soul and look after this country.”

“Do you think so?”

Mohammad thought he got along well with Osama. Despite having enormous wealth from his family, Osama was a clean leader who was patient enough not to turn on the air conditioner even in the scorching heat, never overeating, and sleeping on the bare ground. Mohammad was greatly impressed by Osama, who was an ideal figure for the Islamic fundamentalism he had in mind.

“I still remember your speech in Saudi Arabia. Many people cried and laughed at your words.”

Osama became a star in his home country of Saudi Arabia after defending this land, Afghanistan, from communist invasion. Everyone longed to invite Osama, was enthusiastic about Osama’s words, and was moved by Osama’s actions. The Saudi royal family was no different, and granted many privileges to the Bin Laden family’s businesses.

What Osama bin Laden did was simple but difficult. He always fought at the forefront, took the lead in difficult tasks, participated in making food for everyone, and sincerely mourned the deaths of his comrades.

Everyone could think of it, but no one could do it.

“If only everyone was like Osama.”

Mohammad was sincere. But didn’t someone say that personality and ideology are separate?

George W. Bush also lived a clean life. But what was the result? It was commendable that he was clearly aware that he was lacking, but it was so excessive that he left almost all the work to his staff, and as a result, a great shoveling began. The massive wealth of the United States was quickly depleted due to overseas deployments, and they couldn’t even properly respond to the threats that were erupting internally.

As a result, the great America was in a position to become great again.

Do you want something more extreme? Then there’s Hitler. His daily life was that of a non-smoker, he stayed away from alcohol, he had a deep knowledge of art and favored it, and he loved animals and became the founder of animal protection laws. He was always polite, and he was constantly talking about kindness and affection. Even after the fall of Nazi Germany, his subordinates who were not involved in the military did not hesitate to say that he was the best boss.

Therefore, a clean and affectionate individual could never be a good leader. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and countless demons in history have worn human faces and committed terrible massacres and crimes.

Therefore, Osama bin Laden was no different.

“Don’t praise me too much.”

“No, no! If everyone did even half of what you do, the world wouldn’t be so dark! You are the light of Islam!”

It was then. Multiple explosions began to be heard from afar.

“What’s that sound?”

Mohammad was so startled that he couldn’t even recognize that it was a bombing sound.

“It’s an attack! American bombers are bombing the city!”

“Osama! My brother! Come with me to a safe place!”

Mohammad grabbed Osama’s hand with a firm expression.

“No, I have a duty to protect my family.”

“That’s… right.”

Mohammad reluctantly let go of his hand. There was really no time now. Mohammad’s trusted aides were lined up next to him, waiting for his orders.

“The time has come to show those vile Christians the bitter taste of Islamic law! The time has finally come to declare a holy jihad [a war or struggle against unbelievers]! As Caliph, I command you to show the world the sublimity of the Mujahideen [those engaged in jihad]!”

The time has come.

“Allahu Akbar [God is the greatest]!”

“Allahu Akbar!!!”

It’s war.

* * *

「This is not war.」

“This is not war.”

「This is a preliminary operation to arrest Osama bin Laden.」

“This is a preliminary operation to arrest Osama bin Laden. Blah blah. This is fucking annoying! It’s so noisy!”

The B-52 pilot couldn’t stand the constant contact from the command and sneered. If bombing another country with bombers is not war, then what the hell is it?

“They say it’s an arrest operation. An arrest operation.”

“Ha! That’s ridiculous. Then what are those Lancers flying up there?”

“I guess they’re trying to make it the Stone Age.”

“Haha! What a load of crap!”

As many as 20 bombers were mobilized for this operation. I have no idea what the higher-ups really want to do. Could it be that the idiots in the National Assembly really think that if we bomb hard and turn everything into powder, it’s over!

The squadron of 8 B-1 Lancers flying heavily above with their external weapon bays full made his suspicion even more solid.

“There’s no nuke there, right?”

“Huh? Surely not?”

“Well, yeah, there won’t be a nuke. It’s just going to destroy as much as a nuke would.”

“That’s right.”

The co-pilot agreed with the pilot’s words for the first time. The pilot was a soldier, but he didn’t trust the government and didn’t trust the higher-ups. That didn’t mean the co-pilot was a reliable person. The co-pilot also did not trust the government and the higher-ups. However, he was born into a devout Christian family, and under that influence, he was a person who was closer to positivity than negativity.

“I thought this during the Gulf War, but those Middle Easterners never think of being quiet for a moment! I’m a non-lethalist! I love peace!”

“Me too. Isn’t peace originally derived from strong military power?”

“Ah, I wish everyone would abolish weapons.”

“Then we’ll get fired, too?”

“That’s a problem! Then why don’t you sell ice cream with me? I promised my little lady that.”

The little lady was referring to the pilot’s daughter. The co-pilot once mistook her for a hidden lover and teased him with somewhat sexual jokes, and the co-pilot saw him get genuinely angry.

“Are you retiring?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Ah, I’m getting old and it’s getting hard. I’m going to sell ice cream in front of my house and write.”

“Are you going to write a book or something?”

“Books written by veterans sell well. I have to add it to my retirement fund.”

The city lights were reflected in the pilot’s eyes, who was worried about the future. That city was Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan and had a history of 3,500 years. Kabul was one of the hubs of the Silk Road and a transportation route in Asia, but now it was just a sacrifice for an angry Uncle Sam [a personification of the American government and people].

“Ah, that’s where my taxes are going to explode.”

I won’t even be able to chat properly now. It’s time to work.

“Ah, Captain. How about this?”

The co-pilot held out something, which was something that you would never bring in if you were in your right mind. It was a small cassette tape.

“Y, you little shit! You small! Cute bastard! Haha! I allow it! Play it right now!”

In fact, the cassette tape itself is not a problem. …Maybe.

But it becomes a problem when it goes into a portable cassette player duct-taped to a corner of the cockpit.

When the tape was put into the cassette player, the cassette player automatically rewound the tape, but the rewinding speed was not very good, probably because the cassette player was old.

In the meantime, an order came from headquarters.

「Permission to engage.」

“Shoot carefully. If you touch a cultural asset, it won’t end with a pay cut or confinement. Start! Drop! Drop! Drop!”

“Drop!”

While a fierce conversation was going on between them, the cassette player, as old as the bomber, finally began to spit out a song.

The classic song that the pilot loved. Ride of the Valkyries.