I gave up my art and enlisted.




Terrorism is defined by official U.S. documents as “The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.



They started their covert operations around 1982 from what I can remember. Yes, the Soviets never had a chance against a CIA-backed mujahidin. I never saw much of the war early on. I just heard stories here and there about the intense violence that was occurring. During that time, I lived in an isolated village called Kheng known for mining. And that’s exactly what I did: I mined. Looking back, the work was difficult but the isolation and loneliness was unbearable. But, mining was all I knew, so I had no choice. Luckily for me, however, I had struck it rich by 1985. So, I did what all the lucky ones before me had done: I went to Kabul to sell the emeralds and gemstones I had found. Arriving in Kabul, I was certainly overwhelmed; it was definitely a clash of cultures. The millions of new faces wasn’t exactly a normal site from the village I was coming from. But I had no other choice than to accept it if I expected to make a living in my new environment. And by 1986 I had adjusted quite well and had a comfortable living in the city. Unfortunately, I had sold most of my gemstones and was forced to get a city job. But this was when I was thrust into the harsh realities of the war that I had longed ignored as being trivial. First, I began as a writer for a local newspaper, but then I became a reporter on the front lines and eventually became a correspondent for foreign media sources. By this time I saw the falling away of the Soviet Union, but I was the least bit surprised to uncover that the CIA was backing my homeland. At the time, I greatly praised the U.S. for helping us because I knew the war couldn’t have been won on our own.



There were six mass-based American peace movements in the 20th century. They developed in response to the Spanish-American War, World War I, the rise of European fascism, the rise of the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the threat of a first-strike nuclear war from 1980 to 1990.



In the late 90s, I was just a laid back artist living in New York City. I had married young but had no children. My wife worked her office job and I worked in our studio at the apartment. I was living a life I loved in the big city. My wife and I loved going to the beach upstate in the summer and also loved the heavy snow in the winter. I had found the girl and city of my dreams. And our great apartment in Manhattan catered to a wonderful social life. New York is full of fun and interesting people and we were surrounded by the best friends and my wife’s family. Growing up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, I never thought I’d end up living in a big city, especially one like New York. But as my options for my artistic ability opened up, so did my mind. I had lost interest in suburban life and needed a change: so I packed my bags for New York City when I was accepted into a small art school just outside of the city. It took awhile to get used to but I found my wife and was married within two years of moving there. I was surprised at how fast I adapted but after finally graduating and moving to Manhattan I was certainly complacent. As the century came to an end, I was overwhelmingly happy and at peace. I loved my country but I was most disappointed to watch my party lose the election in 2000. I had gone to rallies and marches throughout the city for Vice President Gore, but they were to no avail. The country would be run for the next four years by the right.



The United States Congress has declared war only five times. All other "wars" have been termed "extended military engagements" with no consent of Congress. On at least 125 occasions, the President has acted without prior express military authorization from Congress.



By 1990, the Soviets were completely out of here and would evidently fall within two years. The mujahidin was victorious but in shambles. The fighting continued between them and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and I continued my work as a rogue journalist. I watched my country defeat communism with the not-so-obvious aid from the United States but where would we go now? There’s no question that the CIA gave weapons to the mujahidin but would the CIA help rebuild our country? As the civil war progressed into the early 90s, I soon feared for my life with the fall of Kabul. As three main groups emerged, I didn’t know which side would save our country. But with the Taliban controlling Kabul I was forced to believe in them. Their brutality and strictness was overwhelming but I had to oblige or be killed. Even though I didn’t believe in how they ran things, I did get a pretty good government job that kept me satisfied. But, I couldn’t help but think who was going to give me my country back from these oppressive imbeciles. Certainly, the U.S. could help us considering they helped us against the Soviets, so why couldn’t they help now? I was quickly disillusioned when I discovered the U.S. didn’t really have any ties with the Taliban. What kind of country clandestinely helps defeat our enemy and then leaves us to fend on our own? Certainly, when the U.S. intervened during World War Two to help France defeat Germany, they didn’t just leave France to rebuild on their own after the Allies won. Afghanistan shouldn’t be any different. We should receive the same aid to stabilize our country. But as the century came to an end, I began to think it was too late for the U.S. to intervene and help. The religious fundamentals had brainwashed a nation. Fear and terror had been inculcated into everyone’s mind in Afghanistan. The Taliban rules were right and any disruptions were strictly punished. Despite their evil ways, they were able to unite everyone in the country. The message was wrong but without any sanctions on them, the Taliban were able to pull off a momentous event on the world stage.




Civil disobedience events have created seven major social reforms in American History. These include: the Boston Tea Party, anti-war movements, women’s suffrage movement, abolition of slavery, introduction of labor laws and unions, civil rights movement, and the anti-nuclear movement.



Ironically, I painted the most colorful picture on that day. I woke up to an empty bed next to me-my wife had gone in early for work. It was around 8:30 a.m. when I finished the painting. To this day, it still is at the same place in my studio. It wasn’t much later that I heard the first boom. It sounded like an explosion. It made me jump, as I soon began to look out my windows. It was only a while longer that I heard the second boom. Instantly, I turned on the T.V. that I usually never watched. And there I sat watching my country under attack, no more than a few miles from where I lived. As the towers fell I frantically began calling my wife. It was no use. As I watched clips here and there of people jumping out of the buildings, I could only picture my wife doing the same. She worked on the 42nd floor. My life was over. In my eyes, everything I had accomplished over the past decade didn’t mean anything. I had lost my dream and I wanted revenge. I gave up my art and enlisted. I didn’t care who did it, I only wanted to protect and serve my country so no American after me would have to go through my pain. My life that had disintegrated would be avenged.



And yet, what actually would he be fighting for. If he were sent to Afghanistan he would only be continuing the U.S. military cycle that has been going on there since the 80s. If a nation is going to aid or engage in any military action in another, it must realize the consequences that go along with this decision. Setting up a puppet government or not attempting to set up any government after intervention is designed for failure. Military imperialism is suicide. Deploying military in a country to pursue political or ideological goals is by definition terrorism. The United States must have dementia. It apparently hasn’t learned anything from its “extended military engagements” in Vietnam or any place in the Middle East. A nation cannot beat terrorism with terrorism. Fire cannot be fought with fire.