"No Russian" and why Infinity Ward are my new Heroes!

  
I always feel it is appropriate to start with a quote, especially since someone else can put it oh so more eloquently than I.

   "We live in the United States of Amnesia." -Gore Vidal

    Now we know that the uninformed amongst the more popular media have created a (misinformed) "controversy" over the very poignant level of the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game. 
(Quick note: the following contains spoilers.)
If you are reading this, chances are, you know all about this "No Russian" level.  Its very title, and the command by Zakeav that "No Russian" is spoken, conveys what is to befall at the end of the mission.  We all know that we are allowed (as a CIA agent in deep cover) to fire upon innocent civilians in an airport.  The brutality of the level was intense.  IW decided that players could skip the level with no effect to storyline.

So, the level ends with Zakeav blowing out the PFC's brains and leaving this American CIA agent dead.  Of course, this points the proverbial finger at the American government and its agencies.  Something, I believe, that should happen quite often. 

So, why are IW my new heroes?  Because this is a jab at our (I am a US citizen) foreign policy.  It is our foreign policy that has created the very terrorists that we are now fighting in illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  These wars were fully backed by both of our dominant political parties. 

I find it impressively poignant that the agent was affiliated with the CIA, as was Osama bin Laden.  I also find it important that the CIA agent was working against the Russians on behalf of the USA, as was Osama bin Laden.  No, this isn't a conspiracy theory, my fellow Americans.  It is common knowledge to many people outside of our fair country.  (I will provide keywords for you at the end of this post.)

Amazingly, the current discourse is about how this game "trains our kids to be terrorists."  Not about the USA's involvement in the very areas this game takes place.  I would find it not uneducational to research America's involvement in every location used within this game.  At the risk of sounding high handed, I do believe that, in this case, art is educating us and bringing us the ability to question what is happening.  (Another Blog might argue the 1st Amendment Rights pertaining to this work.)  IW is forcing us to take a hard look in the mirror and really understand what it means to be "American" to ourselves and to the world.

It is this incredibly powerful piece of art that has brought to the forefront the discussion of terrorism and its role with/ in contemporary American society.  What gave rise to the current terrorists?  Why did Osama bin Laden order the bombing of the World Trade Center? the Pentagon? and (assumed third target) the White House? Remember, it is these three powerful, political entities that shape our foreign policy. 



Here are the keywords I provide to you, who think I am speaking of conspiracy, or that I know not of what I speak.  (BTW the majority of the terrorists that hijacked the planes were Saudi, not Afghani.)  I learned these terms while talking to a Viet Nam veteran and a Retired Air Force Colonel, who was the Korean War:

Mujahideen, Soviet-Afghan War (and the United States involvement therein), Osama bin Laden motive for 9/11, the United States involvement in the Iran coup of 1953, what type of government we supported in that coup vs what replaced it, Iran Contra affair, Iraqi relations with the USA, and the USA and Saddam Hussein

These you are free to research on your own and possibly educate yourselves.  It is not my intention to start a rhetoric battle with pro left and pro right supporters.  So, I ask you, take that elsewhere.