By Arsen Gourjian
The big lie peddled by our leaders at the beginning of this millennium was that the military had to go into Iraq because Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. Although the rationale for military intervention was based on inconclusive reports, the lie was still sold to the public. The cartoon Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire, published on Engaging Peace April 15, 2019, brilliantly illustrates the tactics that the government used to sell that lie.
Even prior to September 11, 2001, the military-industrial complex did a rather good job of drumming up public support for the invasion of Iraq. However, the level of that support reached an apex following the September 11 attacks. In fact, according to a Gallup poll conducted at the time, the majority of surveyed individuals falsely believed that Iraq was responsible for those attacks. It is my firm belief that this was no accident. It seems that the government’s propaganda machine was working overtime to convince the public that it really was Iraq that was responsible. Perhaps this was done to exploit Iraq’s strategically advantageous geographic location, or perhaps the U.S. had long felt that it was time for Saddam to go because they could no longer exert enough influence over him. Either way, they undoubtedly felt that it was the right moment to push for war, given the public outrage over 9/11.
The devastating destabilization resulting from the power vacuum created in Iraq is still being felt to this day. It is quite unfortunate, but the U.S. has long been having a direct impact on the instability that some countries face. For instance, I strongly believe that many Mexican migrants are fleeing a never-ending war that is not often spoken about anymore — the “War on Drugs.” It is, in fact, the same “War on Drugs” that was used to justify the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. This war, propagated by the U.S., has fueled the rise of ruthlessly violent cartels, who have caused political corruption, violence, and instability in Mexico. This has led some Mexican citizens to seek refuge in the United States.
I am very understanding of their plight and believe that people such as this should be treated as refugees by our government. However, I also feel that a good number of those people would have liked to stay in Mexico, but could not, in large part due to the havoc wreaked by the cartels running their towns. Yet, I firmly believe that the power to wreak such havoc is mandated to the cartels as a result of the “War on Drugs.” As with Alcohol Prohibition in the first half of the twentieth century, it has created an increasingly lucrative black market, with profit margins (as well as substance use) actually increasing over time.
As a strong proponent of civil liberties, I believe that the government has long been abusing their powers by perpetuating the “War on Drugs,” leaving countless casualties in their wake. A lot of politicians talk about accepting migrants as refugees, but very few talk about the uncomfortable fact that oftentimes, our government is creating refugees by destabilizing nations. Sadly, it appears that this has been the case in both Latin America and Iraq.
Note from Kathie MM: Please check out the cartoon that inspired Arsen to write this post.
Arsen Gourjian earned a master’s degree in Psychology from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Worcester State University. He currently works as a Research Psychologist at The Fireside Center: Learning & Teaching International, a Massachusetts based clinic for psychological and educational services. He is also working towards his graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Regis College, with aspirations of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In addition to Psychology, Arsen’s academic and research interests include Criminology, History, and Geopolitics.
