9/11 : Retaliation or Invasion with Compassion?
What if on March 19, 2003 the United States invaded Iraq with compassion and forgiveness, distributing $28,857.59 to each citizen of Iraq rather than bombing and invading the country in what was called “Operation Shock and Awe” in retaliation for the atrocity of 9/11 ?
On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people were killed when airplanes hijacked by Islamic jhadists crashed into both towers of New York City’s World Trade Center. It was a vowed attack against the Western world’s domination of the Islamic world by al-Qaeda. It was a devastating tragedy.
Eighteen months later, in a profligate reaction to mistaken information that suggested Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, on March 19, 2003 the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland launched an air attack on Iraq followed immediately by a ground invasion. Here are a few facts.
- 29,199 bombs were deployed costing countless lives and immeasurable suffering during the war.
- The United States Department of Defense’s direct spending on Iraq totaled at least $757.8 billion.
- Prior to the invasion, the population of Iraq was approximately 26.26 million people.**
What if the people privileged with positions of power in the United States and allies chose mercy over retaliation? What if the United States and allies chose to evoke “Shock and Awe” by invading Iraq with compassion and forgiveness, distributing $28,857.59 to each citizen of Iraq ( 757.8 billion divided by 26.26 million = 28,857.59)? Might the eyes of the Iraqi’s hearts be opened to see the United States as a benevolent power rather than a country of infidels? Might the world experience the United States and her allies as whole-hearted humanitarians promoting peace and the common good rather than fearful power mongers? How many lives would have been saved in all of the countries involved? How different would the world look today?
Justice and mercy, mercy and justice must be held between two hands, praying for the grace and the grit :
- to live into the philosophical ideal that people are to be treated fairly and impartially by persons in positions of power over others,
- and, to give substance to God’s presence and power, expressed as forgiveness or compassion delivered by persons in positions of power over others, persons who are themselves subordinate to God’s power.
Regardless of the power attributed to any person or country, their power is given in subordination to God or whatever they understand to be greater than they are. This means, the rod of earthly power is meant to be executed as an outward and visible expression of God’s mercy.
How many times must I forgive someone who steps on my toes? owes me money? threatens me? harms my loved ones? As many a seven times? When Peter asks Jesus this question, Jesus’ response is unequivocal, “ Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (See Matthew’s text below)
“Oh dear. This is too hard. I really cannot do this.”
Can you hear Jesus’ response? “Of course you cannot do this by your own wit and will. Therefore, put your hands together and pray. Pray with every ounce of your being for the grace and grit of God’s mercy to open your eyes, transform your heart, reform your mind and compel you to act with forgiveness and compassion. The mercy you extend to others will be returned to you. Likewise, the blame and disdain you harbor toward others will execute you.”
Jesus holds the disciples and us to a high order of moral conduct if not transformed hearts. Nothing less than the justice and mercy we desire for ourselves may be delivered to others. Anything less inevitably renders dire consequence.
- * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq#:~:text=The invasion phase began on. accessed Sept 10, 2023.
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Learn more about me at https://www.debraasis.org/ All words are generated by grace and the grit of a real human being. Debra Asis
Matthew 18:21–35
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
