There is no doubt that ISIS, and groups like them, need to be stopped. They are murderess thugs bent on the annihilation of civilization. They have no desire for an Islamic State. They thrive on chaos. Their political and somewhat public support is almost non-existent however they do receive funding from various private sources. This is why, when I hear arguments that we need to go to war with them because if we don’t it will be just like Nazi Germany I smirk. While they may be as ruthless, and as blood thirsty, ISIS is no Adolf Hitler.
First, let’s put things into perspective. Germany was devastated economically after WWI. France and Great Britain put a huge economic burden on the country by demanding war reparations. The recovery from the political, social and economic depression in the country was slow, if not nonexistent. This set into motion the events that brought the little painter with the funny mustache to power in 1933. While his rise was definitely underscored by acts of violence on his opponents, he used the political system to gain the influence he needed to set into motion the atrocities which started five years later.
By the 1936 Olympics in Berlin Hitler had secured his role as a world leader. Much of the world thought he was the second coming, including Great Britain who appeased him early on. For those not paying attention, he was seen as a great man who was leading his people out from economic oblivion into an economic power greater than the world had ever seen. It wasn’t until he started to annex neighboring countries that the rest of the world started to take notice of his true goals. Which is interesting since he actually published them.
Now, let’s look at ISIS. They and similar groups have done little, or nothing, to garner political influence on the world stage. They have shown themselves to be nothing but thugs. They will never influence anyone to their cause other than a small set of twisted individuals. They are just criminals. So the question we should be asking is how are these organizations able to survive without widespread political support? That’s easy…don’t think Hitler. Think Capone.
These groups are dependent on criminal activity and the support of larger business, political and criminal enterprises to stay afloat. Religious fervor is not what keeps this going. Also, just like Capone, these groups will one day turn on their benefactors and become more trouble than they are worth. That just hasn’t happened yet. However, even Capone knew he needed local support to keep his enterprises running. These fools aren’t even that smart.
These terrorists are not politically connected. Tragically however the people funding them are. The companies and multinationals that supply the arms to defeat these criminals are even more dependent upon their continuation, than the people who supply the funding. If we could cut off funding for these groups, they wouldn’t be able to buy arms, terrorize populations, or have the wherewithal to spook a groundhog. That means that all the financial organizations, and businesses that supply arms, technology, fuel, food, cash and manpower used to defeat these cockroaches won’t enjoy the financial windfall they are right now. They also won’t be able to fund the political campaigns of politicians around the globe who depend on their money to get elected. There is much more going on here than what can be seen on the surface. See…Capone.
The United States, Europe, China and Russia have enormous influence on world cash flow. Nothing moves without their approval…nothing. If they truly wanted to stop funding to these organizations, they would. However…they won’t. As long as there is profit, business leaders will block any movement toward intervention. They convince themselves that “Hey, I don’t kill the people. I only sell them ways to defend themselves.” This, my friends, is how billionaires sleep at night…on their yachts. What are a few dead babies and beheaded reporters to the larger financial picture?
Einstein said that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is insanity. By rattling the war sabers we’re doing the same thing we have always done, and expecting something different. Committing U.S. or any troops to a war that will end in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, or millions of lives is insanity. It’s time for a new tactic. So I propose this:
If we find that any citizen of any country is financially funding, selling, supplying, or in any way knowingly supporting rather directly or indirectly, these terrorists, then it is the obligation of that country to apprehend said individual and present them to an international court to stand trial. Their finances will be immediately frozen, and they will no longer have the means to provide support for these groups. If said country fails to apprehend said individual, then that country’s finances are frozen, and they risk military intervention from the world.
Now let me tell you why this won’t work. I know what you’re thinking. Rex, you’re a cynic. Yes I am. Most realists are. So the reality is that as soon as someone presents the idea of a roadblock to the economic elite, the power brokers in all countries will spoil that idea like maggots on meat. Want to know why? Because they need the social, economic, and political crises for their own financial gain.
This is why I say, and will always say, follow the money. If we don’t then we will always end up in the same insanity over, and over, and over, again. Religious wars have been going on for thousands of years. They have also been funded by very wealthy and influential people that have stood to benefit from their creation. The terrorists are not the major threat to civilization. It’s the backroom wheelers and dealers who pull their strings that are the true societal threat.
So stop listening to politicians who say that ISIS is the next Fuhrer. They’re not even close. They are however, a means by which the true demons influence public debate for their own means. True threats are never in the open. They fester under the skin like an infection waiting to devour a body. These fools are out in the open showing us their true colors. When the next Hitler arrives, we won’t see him coming until it’s too late. Unfortunately, only then, will the financial world know it made a mistake.