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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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The right column : Heroes or villains? Who thought the Americans would clear our dirt? Yet, that is what they are doing right at the moment. They are doing a good job, I mean a good dirty job. It was also unthinkable that Uncle Sam would send elite Marines to a poor Third World country like ours for such less honourable work. But this is the 21st Century and now it is already the Second term of President George W. Bush - the modern Emperor. The majority of Sri Lankans seem to be happy with the presence of the Marines. Even the Red Berets of the JVP seem to be unconcerned despite their professed anti-Americanism. Some say they are a tamed lot these days after tasting the plums (or crumbs) of office. It may be the return of the self-exiled boss who now poses with the world elite including Kofi Annan that has sobered our rebellious boys or southern thambis. There is another theory that is currently in vogue. It says that the JVP wants to get the Americans to do a dirty job for them - to teach Prabha a lesson and save Sri Lanka. They hope that Bush will teach Prabha of Thamil Eelam the same lesson he taught Sadam Hussein of Iraq. Nevertheless there are sceptics. Their numbers are strangely not numerous. Yet they ask some irritating questions. Irritating not for Uncle Sam but for those at the top here. The US has said that the Marines are here at the invitation of the government. There is no reason to disbelieve it even though there are ways and means of obtaining invitations if you are powerful enough. Minster of Science and Technology, an old Trotskyite-another dying breed- has reportedly told the alternative media that there was no Cabinet decision to invite the Marines. Yes, it is those left of the old Left that are in the forefront questioning the wisdom of getting down the Marines. Even the Commies who rarely show their difference with the powers that be in the ruling dispensation have diplomatically said that it is better if the Marines leave soon in the "larger interests of the nation'. Irrespective of the physical weakness of these Lefties the Sceptic cannot underestimate their mental alertness and horse sense. What causes concern, I believe, is the track record of the Marines and their Commanders including the Commander-in-Chief. Right now the US Army is located in some 130 countries of the world. The entire 20th Century has seen the occupation of one country after another by US troops and the installation of puppet regimes that obey Washington dictates. It was only two or three days ago that President Bush threatened to create more Iraqs to win his War on Terror. No wonder people and intelligent people at that are being a little suspicious. Besides it was not so long ago that the US wanted Rest and Recreation facilities for its Armed Forces including the Marines in the South Eastern coast of Sri Lanka. No wonder Prabha is reluctant to accommodate the Marines in his domain. In the wake of growing Muslim fundamentalism the US was looking for a pacifist location like Buddhist Sri Lanka. The last government had no time to complete the deal. Who knows whether it will be pursued in earnest in the post-tsunami phase? - the Sceptic |
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