Interview With Larry E. Park author of "An Apology to the Iraqi People"

Marhaba Hada,

I am honored to address the three profound questions that you would like an ordinary American citizen to answer.  In the interest of the high ideals of public journalism, I will attempt to give you clear, simple answers that can be understood when translated into Arabic.  Even though evil and injustice to mankind might be discussed, the thrust of my response is to influence the reader to examine personal perspectives and initiate positive day to day interactions with others in their immediate sphere and explore creative avenues that will improve local and global interdependent relationships.

As two friends might speculate about the outcome of a trivial game of soccer, both supporting their perspective and yet seeing the end differently, my response to your questions might give you a different slant on these very important concepts of:  firstly, a personal sense of safety,  secondly, impact of 911 on global relations and thirdly, the role of government in gaining support for war on foreign soil.

Words spoken or written are the windows to a man’s innermost soul, I will attempt to make myself transparent and will strive to uphold my solemn sense of responsibility when what gets published and read could change men’s lives for better or worse.

Much has been written about the questions you pose, so my response though heartfelt might seem from outer space and in fact my thoughts have been influenced by words inspired by the ultimate extraterrestrial, our Creator God.  I believe He, knowing the final act of man’s open rebellion, anticipates the coming crises and counsels us how to recognize preeminent signs and how to respond to the forces of evil while maintaining our loyalty to Him.  If one lived in a concentrated city anywhere on the globe, one’s present knowledge of urban crime and chaos in time of “disaster” would lead us to make plans to relocate outside these vulnerable areas so that we might not be swept away during social unrest and disorganization.

The very survival of individuals around the globe depends on understanding the concepts used to illustrate the answers to your questions in remembrance of September 11, 2001.

Hada:  Do you think that America is more secure after its war on Afghanistan and invasion of Iraq?

Larry  -  Long  answer:  First, let me define security as a perception of being able to safely participate in daily activities of living within the social context of family, community and having the freedom to interact within the geographic boundaries of a sovereign nation for economic activity or the pursuit of happiness.

I believe the war in Afghanistan was a revengeful act against Taliban leaders that had overtly or covertly supported Osama Bin Laden’s base of operations.  The conflict between this former educated trainee of the CIA, Bin Laden, and America found its roots when he saw our hearts close up and was sickened by the preponderance of greedy control we exercised in Mid Eastern countries for our own profit and to secure access to natural resources.   I do not condone his acts of violence,  I do attempt to understand his frustration, but his effort to persuade large numbers of peoples all over the planet to rise up against the United States cannot be stymied by brute military strength and deployment.  Osama Bin Laden finds his voice in the wilderness by representing hordes of economically suppressed humans.  America’s multinational corporations are focused on profit, not their abuse of cheap foreign labor so we have a hard time selling America the rhetorically beautiful to those oppressed.

The infamous 911 call made by a disgruntled former employee of America’s Central Intelligence Agency blew the whistle on America’s long history of hegemony and was a call for emergency attention to past and present Arab grievances.  A retired American General responded astutely to the call just days afterwards with his recommendations;  “Unless the gross inequities between the haves and have-nots are addressed, terrorism will continue to flourish.”   Global terrorist leaders do not have recruiting problems during this pivotal time in earth’s history.

Unfortunately the American 911 dispatcher put the caller on hold while sending shock, awe and armies of ground troops to attack the vulnerable and impoverished seeking relief from tyranny and deprivation.   Like New Orleans, a global human emergency calling for positive remedial action turned into a disaster by the wrong response.

The call was made for help, but due to a lack of understanding and our leader’s vision clouded by dreams of a One World government, America weighed in the balance of blind justice has come up short.

America’s sense of invulnerability was stripped away when the haughty, towering symbols of her economic strength turned to dust and her citizens realized that their rhetorical plea, “God Bless America” so often pronounced to lull them to sleep was not being heard in the courts of Heaven because she had ignored the cries of the oppressed.

No, America is not more secure because of the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.  The conflict lies within our hearts as we daily are confronted with the specter of human need near and afar.  That conflict becomes visible when we chose to actively uplift the impoverished of spirit and equip them to be productive instead of doing nothing by the default of a self serving mind set or exploiting their weakness in acts of racial genocide.

Larry  -  Short Answer:  No,  America has not won the hearts of its enemies by addressing their legitimate grievances and now cowers in its own darkness of hegemony. Many residents of large American cities are held hostage to behaviors supported by misguided entitlements, have bars on their windows for protection from thugs not terrorists and anarchy lurks in the shadows to be liberated by opportunities afforded by natural disasters, electricity blackouts, disruption of basic services and social disorganization.    After 911, I often made the point that the breakdown of the American home and the subsequent unraveling of the typical constraints imposed by a civil society was setting the stage for a much greater national crises from within.  The hype of war is just a distracter from the more difficult task of turning America’s heart of stone back into the likeness of her God’s character.

A sense of security and being able to sleep without fear only comes when men’s hearts turn to their Creator and they find comfort in a relationship that guides their thoughts and actions based on His Laws governing interdependent relationships between all humans.  Honest communication supports healthy relationships and lies told by the spin masters undermine our sense of safety and trust in others. Americans know they were mislead and lied to by their elected and appointed leaders.  No, we don’t feel more secure!  Hurricane Katrina has ripped away our security blanket and self delusions of safety and the ability of big government to care for our every need.

Hada  -  How would you evaluate American foreign policy after September 11?

Larry – I must first establish a standard of reference by which individual and corporate conduct is measured:   I do not claim to have the experience nor the ability to evaluate the pros and cons of American foreign policies overt and covert in all instances because my feeble analysis might fall short of any rational understanding and probably would end up as spin exploited, opposing my perspective.  One is compelled to search for a standard of perfection that guides imperfect humans on their path of long term interdependent relationships and the pursuit of happiness.  I make no apologies in identifying my standard by which all nations are weighted, the one and only Creator God who made the planets, stars and all the creatures and plants found on our shared home, know as earth.

Larry  -  Short Answer:  Blinded by rage, America wanted bloody revenge and politicians made the policy to fit!