When Leaders Choose Bombs

“An empire with excess guns and bombs

has one solution for every problem.”

Our leaders in the U.S. are continually drawn into military options. There are many interpretations as to why our president recently chose to take out an Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in a military drone strike. Whatever the reasoning, innocent civilians suffered in the aftermath when Iran's military response mistakenly brought down a commercial airliner resulting in the deaths of all passengers on board. In addition, the chances of wartime escalations were increased.

When our leaders choose bombs over diplomacy, many innocent people suffer in the aftermath.

Here is a re-post from April 11, 2017:

Photo from Mass Communication SPC. Ford Williams/U.S. Navy via AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Tomahawk missiles streak through the air as Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter conducts strike operations against Syria while in the Mediterranean Sea on April 7, 2017 (New York Daily News)

"World leaders praise US attack on Syria, while Assad allies fume"

(Headline from The Hill)

A Unity of Bombs

How quickly sentiments can change

With a bomb –

Like a collective sigh of relief.

A shower of missiles launched

Toward a Syrian airbase

Suddenly changed the public narrative.

Opponents applaud a decisive act.

Critics allow

That something had to be done.

It’s like those Hollywood westerns

When the sheriff fires a gun into the air

And the crowd settles down.

When peace and diplomacy

Become tiresome,

A good bomb can break the tension –

Reset the clock.

An empire

With excess guns and bombs

Has one solution for every problem.

While heads of state

Gloat

Posture

Challenge

Or congratulate,

The people remain crushed

Under the heel

Of political power.

A bomb makes a leader

Look decisive,

But the dust always settles

On the people now seen as collateral damage –

Disregarded and marginalized –

The dust settles,

Streamed by humanity’s tears.

                                                            ~ CK

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