After America was attacked on 9-11, a military coalition was
immediately sent into Afghanistan, the reputed hideout for al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden. The goal was to capture bin Laden, whose extremist militia was behind 9-11 and other terrorist attacks that
dated back to the 1990‘s. The Western troops ousted Afghanistan’s
government, the Taliban, which was anti-West, but friendly to al
Qaeda. A pro-West government was installed and elections were 
held. Troops remain in Afghanistan to stabilize the nation from
outside attacks by the Taliban and other Muslim groups.
Prior to the military occupation of Iraq, the Bush Administration
gave several reasons for the invasion. It was reported that Iraq
had weapons of mass destruction, that Saddam Hussein had colluded
with al Qaeda on the 9-11 attacks, that terrorist groups were given
free rein to train in the little nation, and to bring democracy to
the Middle East, beginning with Iraq. None of these reasons bore
out. To logically conclude the true purpose for attacking and
occupying Iraq, we must take a closer look at an earlier
conflict-the Cold War.

After World War II ended, two world superpowers rose from the
ashes--America and the Soviet Union. The quest began for world
domination and battle lines were drawn. America held West Berlin,
West Germany, and Western Europe. The Soviets snatched East Berlin,
East Germany, and Eastern Europe. While America guarded Japan, the
Soviets provided military aid to the Sino-Maoist insurgency and
China went Communist. The first war for world domination started
when North Korea, backed by Communist China, invaded South Korea in
1950. America came to the defense of South Korea and drove the
invaders back. A ceasefire was called for in 1953, ending the Cold
War’s first proxy war.

After both superpowers developed atomic weapons, direct
confrontations between America and the Soviet Union became
suicidal. Millions of lives were at stake to risk open war between
the two nations, so the conflict was fought by either defensive
military lines, such as those drawn in East and West Germany, or by
proxy, such as the Korean War.

The next proxy war was fought in North and South Vietnam during the
1960’s and early 1970’s. Communist North Vietnam, backed by Chinese
military and personnel, invaded South Vietnam. America fought the
northern invaders and the South Vietnamese Communist insurgency for
about 12 years before bowing out in 1973.

The third and final proxy war started when the Soviets invaded
Afghanistan in 1979. America helped arm and fund the Afghan
‘Freedom Fighters’ and the Soviets were expelled by 1989. Thousands
of lives were lost during the three proxy wars. Billions of dollars
were spent to keep the militaries on both sides going.
The primary reason that America got involved in South Korea and
South Vietnam was to prove its credibility to friend and foe alike.
The U.S. wanted to ensure its allies that they will stand by them
until the job is done. America also wanted to send a clear and
direct message to the Soviet Union: What America accomplished in
Korea and Vietnam will be repeated if the Soviets attempt to invade
West Germany, Western Europe, or any other U.S. interest.

If America had not intervened in either Korea or Vietnam during the
Cold War,  there would have been serious consequences. The Soviet
Union would have picked off every major and minor country in the
Eastern Hemisphere and made them Soviet Satellite nations. America
would have then stood alone, isolated from the rest of the world in
trade, communications, and alliances until the U.S. fell
economically. America would then be ripe for the pickings. Millions
of lives would be at stake if nuclear warfare ensued. Thus,
America’s involvement in the Korean War and the War in Vietnam were
not options we could turn down.

Today, the Cold War is officially over. However, the world is
enmeshed in a new conflict, the War on Terror. Radical Islamic
groups in many nations have cells, self-sufficient groups which
are ready at a moment’s notice to kill anyone for their stated
purpose. Some of the groups are large, such as al Qaeda and
Hezbollah. Others, such as a British extremist Muslim cell which
bombed the London subways, are small.

Their primary purposes are to completely oust the nation of Israel from the Middle East and to eradicate all Western influence and presence in the Arabian Peninsula. Many moderate Muslims throughout the world agree with these radical goals.

One of the reasons America is leading a coalition of troops in Iraq
and Afghanistan is to eliminate the radical Islamic enemy. Another
is to prove America’s credibility by sending a message to friend
and foe alike that the U.S. will take military action to protect
its borders and to protect its friends. These messages will be
received loud and clear by the radical Muslims as long as the U.S.
stands her ground and allows our troops to accomplish their
military missions.

Another reason our troops are in Asia is to secure the region’s
oil. Like it or not, the Western nations need oil to keep their
vehicles going, to heat homes and businesses, and for use in
manufacturing products. Until the world finds an energy substitute
for oil, we must drill where we can find it and protect our
overseas oil interests.

The oil-rich regions today are embroiled in unprecedented conflicts
involving most major nations. There is military conflict in the
Middle East, trouble in northern Africa, problems in Central Asia,
and angst in South America. Some of the most volatile nations in
the world are buying weapons from nations which are rich weapons
brokers.

America, Russia, and China are in desperate straits for oil and
precious minerals today. The demand for these resources far exceeds supply. All three nations are selling weapons, anything from small arms to nuclear facility construction to such troubled nations as
Venezuela, Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Armenia, Taiwan, Burma, Nepal, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Kuwait,
the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen,
Libya, Chad, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya,
Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Nigeria, Djibouti, Indonesia,
Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, and Serbia, among other
nations. These countries are either rich in oil, rich in minerals,
or are strategically located.

Undoubtedly the weapons sold to troubled nations will be used for
offensive and defensive purposes. If conflict ensues, America hopes
the nations they back win so that the U.S. may freely buy oil or
gold there, or may place their military installations there.

Likewise, the nations that Russia or China back would richly pay their wealthy benefactors if they won a future conflict.

The Cold War is a thing of the past. Few historians, commentators,
or  politicians expect for America to go to war with Russia or
China. However, many experts state that oil is a finite product and
that its supply is dwindling. The second worldwide war today is an
economic war which basically pits America against Russia and China.    

The three nations arm their allies and often place military personnel in the countries they wish to buy oil or gold from.

Today’s major world war is a two-fold conflict. Its first stated
objective is that the West must beat down the Islamic terrorists
throughout the world. The second involves a conflict to dominate
the oil- and mineral-rich nations of the world. Failure of both
objectives is likely to lead to military weakness and economic
distress for the Western nations.

Tom Proebsting is a writer living in Moberly, Missouri.

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