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Why does it seem that in the pursuit of peace, war is always amongst the answers? Isn't war against the purpose of religion; to achieve personal peace, and peace in the world. From the thirty year war of the Holy Roman empire, religious oppression between China and Tibet, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians, the unstable region of Kashmir claimed by both Pakistan and India, to religious extremism in Afghanistan, its seems religious conflict persists. The latest is the threat by Yemeni religious leaders of holy war if foreign troops try to invade Yemen, or any of its surrounding waters. “If any party insists on aggression, or invades the country, then according to Islam, jihad becomes obligatory,” was announced in a statement signed by more than a hundred Yemeni clerics. According to a Times Online article,Yemen is said to be at war with terrorists who are trying to hide out within their boarders. More attention is being places on the region since the Christmas day bombing attempt on a U.S flight, conducted by alQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a branch of the terror network centered in Yemen.
More over Yemenese leader's are suggesting that western forces are planning an Iraq & Afghanistan type invasion. They also claim that an upcoming London conference on Yemen is meant to clear the way for such an invasion. Despite this, the U.S has said that it has no plan on invading Yemen. To the contrary according to Times Online, the chairman of the US Senate’s Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin said “most options ought to be on the table, short of a US invasion." He even urged the Pentagon to consider targeting alQaeda with armed drones, airstrikes or even covert operations. On another note, are the people of Yemen including their clerics and leaders wrong for trying to tackle their potential problems internally. The Time Online article closes by saying that [Yemeni officials] "are wary of putting a foreign face on their operations. Arguably western countries have invaded other territories prompted by terrorist threats, which has lead to extended occupations, anti-western sentiments, and unstable territories. Either way, a holy war is an oxymoron. No?
-O.Lucius
