To save Ukraine, keep driving

Almost two decades ago, some sacrilegious cartoons were published in a Danish newspaper. The result was anger and sadness among Muslims around the world. Pakistanis had protested against the blasphemy by indulging in a shameful spree of vandalism. Scores of local businesses that had nothing to do with the blasphemous cartoons but which looked and sounded western were vandalised by angry mob. Someone at the time had commented that perhaps the easiest way to destroy Pakistan was to draw some blasphemous cartoons and the people would torch their entire country.

I was reminded of that incident when I started seeing the gas prices going through the roof in America. If Russia wants to destroy America, all it needs to do is to invade a bunch of small and weak nations in its own neighborhood. Rest assured the mighty America will squeeze the blood out of its own people by sanctioning the Russians and banning Russian oil.

The American people are truly taking the hit at the gasoline stations trying to fill their car tanks. It is a simple fact of demand and supply where supply has declined due to the American and European ban on Russian oil, which is the third largest oil producer in the world. Other oil producing countries have invaded nations that are poorer and weaker than Ukraine and have killed more civilians than the Ukrainian civilians who have died at the hands of the Russians. However, those countries have seen their oil exports in America continue to rise.

Usually, in order to protect the American interests in some distant land, American involvement in any shape and form is disguised as the protection of the local people. American soldiers are sent from time to time to safeguard the American interests. Lately, the American way of conducting the war business has been to take the war to the enemies instead of fighting it on American soil. In that, while there was an undeniable economic impact, another serious problem for the most part had been the loss of civil liberties in America. The distant war always recoiled and impacted things at home.

This time around, however, President Biden may not send too many US soldiers abroad but would rather like to bring the war home for all Americans to fight. In order to indulge the urge of saber rattling aimed at the Russians, disguised as protecting the people of Ukraine, Biden is basically asking all Americans, both citizens and non-citizens, to pay the price by buying extremely expensive car fuel in the age of ludicrous inflation.

Turns out, the American power elites may not be any different than the Pakistani mob. The former is busy creating an economic imbalance in its own country to feed its dignity, self-image, and how it defines its own credibility on the global stage. The latter damaged the infrastructure of its own country to feel faithful. Both displayed utter lack of remorse for its selfish actions in the name of a noble sounding cause.

President Biden said, “Americans have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and have made it clear we will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war.” He is right because the Americans are actually being asked to subsidize Zelensky’s war who is the real winner of this war so far. His popularity had hit the bottom in the days before the Russian invasion. Today, his popularity, especially in the western media, has gone through the roof.

Nevertheless, people in America are not going to be content with their leader for protecting the freedom of the people in some distant land. They would rather see their car tanks and bank accounts filled up. Today, the American people complain of the rising inflation, record-high gasoline prices, and a looming housing crisis. Rest assured, if they work harder, put in the hours, pay their taxes, and elect Biden again, today’s circumstances would seem like the glorious past very soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2022.

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