George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 22

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Wherever human civilization has flourished since the time of whaling, tea has always been present. To limit tea to the *cha* (茶) from the Chinese cultural sphere would be too narrow a view. In modern times, tea isn’t just leaves from the tea tree. Many cultures consider tea brewed from pine needles to be tea. Bubble tea, frankly, is also classified as tea, isn’t it?

However, when discussing tea, England is unavoidable. England is perhaps the only country that takes three tea breaks a day and halts wartime operations for the same reason.

Yes, this is England.

“What is it?”

And this man is Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of England.

“This is too sudden.”

Just as he was accelerating the European Union (EU) project, information arrived from the United States about pro-democracy demonstrations in Iraq. The Five Eyes [an intelligence alliance between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand] had been working so well it was almost embarrassing, but reports from other intelligence networks soon confirmed the demonstrations were real.

“There’s no way the Yankees would be this cooperative.”

While welcoming any embrace of Western-style democracy, the situation was becoming clear. With so many demonstrations, even the stubborn Saddam Hussein would have to react.

Saddam Hussein wasn’t one to sit back and observe. Pushed to the extreme, someone who feared losing power more than death would undoubtedly react.

As he pondered this, another report arrived, again from the United States. They were clearly gathering information in the Middle East, especially around Afghanistan, faster than anyone else in the West.

“What?!”

Armed suppression? Not like China using armored vehicles or tanks, but open fire and bombing with surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles? He’d considered it a remote possibility, but it was actually happening? What kind of madman would do that to his own people?

“Is there a more detailed report?”

Again, the information came from the United States! Were their own intelligence agents just twiddling their thumbs? How could England’s intelligence services, in a country known for espionage, be so slow compared to a distant foreign power!

Tony Blair was furious.

Regardless of the United States’ superpower status, history and know-how mattered. How could they be so slow? Blair considered overhauling the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, also known as MI6) from top to bottom, but he sipped his usual milk tea and its sweetness calmed him.

“Alright. It could happen.”

It was a serious question whether British people’s genes secreted narcotics when they drank tea, or if they experienced withdrawal symptoms without it.

“Anyway, the Yankees seem to have a fire under their butts. Why would a terrorist attack happen to us? If it were to happen, it would happen to the United States.”

Among the information shared by the United States was a report outlining the possibility of a terrorist attack in England. It couldn’t be dismissed entirely, but Blair judged it didn’t warrant the same level of alert as in the United States and disregarded it.

“First, instruct them to create a broadcast program condemning Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial actions and policies, making his overthrow the focus of our foreign policy. Any EU member would do the same.”

“Understood.”

“That’s right. If we’re getting information anyway, shouldn’t we extend our hand and gain some favor? Exchange Iraq information with each EU country.”

Even if it was called an exchange, it was closer to unilaterally giving information. But either way, information about Iraq wasn’t that important.

“If the United States gets its hands on the Middle East, Europe will be in trouble.”

To think that in just 225 years, a colony could become powerful enough to overshadow its homeland. What an irony! If possible, he wanted to restore the glory of the old British Empire. In fact, everyone in England longed for those days. To them, the British Empire was synonymous with being the best in the world.

But the glory of the past was just a shadow—visible, but unattainable. The current superpower was clearly the United States of America. But if they could control the rich oil fields of the Middle East, the story would be different. Even a crumbling country could change its international influence by controlling just one oil field. The reason Iraq tried to take Kuwait was ultimately because of Kuwait’s oil fields.

“Tell the Yankees that we’ll handle it ourselves.”

As Tony Blair expected, the EU and its member states, along with the rest of the world, condemned the Iraqi government. However, the real push began to emerge from an unexpected place: the voice of the people.

“We must not tolerate the heinous dictator who is suppressing democracy!”

It wasn’t just about justice, but also a sense of rivalry with the United States. The United States had turned Afghanistan into a pro-American, pro-democracy nation, so what was Europe doing? At the top, they were radically reforming the EU system, but that didn’t resonate with the citizens.

Even with the introduction of the euro, the money in their wallets didn’t suddenly change, and vending machines still used each country’s currency.

Traveling might be easier and prices might drop slightly, but the United States was expanding its hegemony without restraint, and the government was doing nothing.

Nationalists were subtly dissatisfied with Europe’s weak influence, and even those who weren’t were outraged by the bloody suppression of democracy. They criticized the sight of innocent people’s blood flowing.

The question was, ‘Why is Europe standing by and watching the events in the Middle East?’

The problem was that not only the people but also the EU member states couldn’t agree.

Must we intervene?

Must the Third Way [a political position that attempts to reconcile right-wing and left-wing policies] be abandoned?

If we intervene, how far should we go?

How will each country move?

Will we occupy Iraq? Will we create a puppet state?

Most importantly, what benefits will the participating countries gain? Wasn’t this the time when everyone expected the Cold War to end and disarmament to begin?

It wasn’t just a problem for the EU, but for England, France, and Germany. All the leaders were discussing their country’s intervention and non-intervention.

There was no exit strategy. They assumed success based on the United States’ overwhelming power and seemingly clean handling of the situation, as well as their own colonial experience during the age of imperialism, which fueled their imaginations.

The worst-case scenario they considered was troop losses, but they didn’t even assume defeat. In fact, limited to regular warfare, the European and Iraqi armies were incomparable in terms of quality and quantity.

However, they should have been discussing what would happen after the war ended, but they thought it was premature.

And Russia, the leader of the great power that had defined the Cold War era, still possessing the largest territory on Earth despite its collapse, was thinking:

“The neighborhood will be noisy.”

Wasn’t it just yesterday that the Soviet Union had been badly burned in the Middle East? Russia didn’t want to get involved, especially with the Chechen rebels causing headaches. Besides, unlike Chechnya or Afghanistan, there was no good reason to intervene.

Moreover, Russia wasn’t in a good position to move its troops. Things were gradually improving by selling natural resources and oil, but like a sick patient, Russia hadn’t fully recovered from the diseases it acquired during the Cold War.

“Well, even if that’s not the case…”

If they were to learn the ‘lessons’ the Soviet Union learned in Afghanistan, things would get very interesting.

* * *

“Can you see it?”

The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was engulfed in flames.

“That is secularism.”

Islam is dying. This is the end for those who have fallen for the West’s tricks. Secularism brought democracy and killed Islam, and democracy brought death. Death has only called for death.

“The end of the infidels.”

Only true faith saves oneself. They will never go to Allah’s side. Zarqawi looked at Iraq and his faith grew stronger.

“Why on earth would they not see Allah?”

They are those who were at least once Muslims. If Allah in heaven were to see this, wouldn’t it be truly lamentable? Allah is generous. Perhaps he will directly receive them and distinguish those who will go to heaven and hell. However, if they die during the war in a way other than fighting, they cannot go to Allah’s side. Therefore, they must at least ‘fight.’ So shouldn’t we at least make them ‘fight’?

“The reason they cannot see Allah… That is Saddam Hussein!”

Strike down Saddam Hussein!

Iraq has been tainted by secularism and has been moving further and further away from Allah’s will since Saddam Hussein began to rule. This is all the result of not following the Quran and entrusting oneself to the will of man!

Then, then… If we overthrow Saddam Hussein and occupy Iraq, giving the infidels ‘a chance to fight,’ wouldn’t that be the solution?

If we put the infidels in one place and make them fight each other, the faith in Islam that they had forgotten will be awakened, and the trust in al-Qaeda will also become stronger and more sincere. When that happens, they will be truly moved by Allah’s mercy and call out Zarqawi’s name with one heart and one mind.

“Brothers! The current Iraq has been corrupted and defiled by secular rule! We will purify Iraq with our own hands and make only one correct sound, the sound of the Quran, resound!”

The Quran is the heavenly path that reaches Allah!

There were some ‘comrades’ in the Iraqi government as well. If we could borrow their hands, things would be much easier.

“Allahu Akbar!”

“Allahu Akbar!!!”

* * *

“Don’t touch it?”

I checked the reply again.

‘Don’t touch.’

It was short and blunt. They’ll handle it themselves. Wow, it’s enough to make cancer get cancer and die. I’m trying to offer help, but they dare to refuse?

“Have you seen these arrogant people?”

They refuse a helping hand just to protect their pride? How can this be possible?

“Mr. President?”

“Can’t you see I’m angry right now?”

“We need to issue a statement. It’s a mess on TV right now.”

“We should just focus on managing Afghanistan well.”

What are they hoping for? Of course, the people have already tasted victory, so support for the war is high, if not higher. But if it were Kuwait or other oil-producing countries, it would be different. Afghanistan was prepared for everything before the war began.

Advance information and real-time intelligence obtained from the Northern Alliance [a military-political organization that operated in Afghanistan] and whistleblowers. They dispatched about three times more troops than in the original history, and the post-war handling was impeccable. He sent several orders to pay attention and dispatched Karl Rove, one of his confidants, to try to minimize anti-American sentiment arising from cultural differences. Also, instead of stationing troops, he dispatched military advisors to minimize the outflow of defense spending and make Afghanistan a pro-American country.

But Iraq is not. In the Middle East, the CIA is showing the best efficiency by cooperating as much as possible with the locals in Afghanistan, but it has only just begun to take root.

Even if the US military occupies Iraq now, there is no suitable person to entrust the Iraqi government to. I clearly remember Libya in 2011. What happened after the Gaddafi government collapsed? Wasn’t the new government that came in worse than Gaddafi?

Touching Iraq now is like touching a hornet’s nest. It’s full of anger.

For now, we need to focus on domestic issues, regardless of international hegemony. If we keep projecting power, we might become an empty shell.

“For the next month, tell the CIA that they can exercise some flexibility.”

“Flexibility?”

“I’m saying that they can check the personal information of foreigners in real time. Do you understand what this means?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. President. That’s illegal.”

“Do you want to see me bring all the neocons [neoconservatives, a political movement] back after a few more terrorist attacks?”

Since Rumsfeld’s downfall, the neocons’ position has been declining. The rate of decline wasn’t that fast, but it wasn’t slow either. They must have read the currents coming towards them, as they are not fools. Well, there are not many occupations that require as much tact as politicians.

“Understood. Then what are you going to do about Iraq? If you just give a speech, Congress will approve it right away.”

“Iraq?”

Iraaaaaaq!?

“Let me make it clear. We will never go to Iraq.”

“Yes? I don’t know why, but we won’t be able to handle the people’s demands.”

“Afghanistan at least had a clear vision, but Iraq is a quagmire. Above all, we must now focus on the inside.”

Iraq? If they want it, they can have it! But I don’t know how long they can keep it!

“Let’s see them take a big bite of shit!”