The events of September 11, 2001, will always be with us. They will affect virtually the entire world, and will have their greatest impact on Western civilization. Such events are not unusual, however, as anyone who collects stamps readily understands. This article will look briefly at the current catastrophe, and then review how war has affected philately since its very beginnings.
Briefly, before we discuss how wars have affected philately, we need a quick discussion on whether this really IS a war. As a military historian and retired veteran, I know we are at war. There is no doubt. As a former military intelligence specialist, I can truthfully say, without fear of the FBI knocking on my door about disclosing secrets, that this war has been going on a long time - perhaps as long as 85 years - since the destruction of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. Finally, as an historian, I can say that this is nothing new - the same type of pseudo-religious basis for warfare was expressed by a portion of Mohammed's followers immediately after his death. It took sixty years of intense fighting among the followers of Mohammed to put down that uprising. There are three important pieces of information that must be re-stated:
First, this is NOT a religious war - this is a political war. It is being fought using religion as a uniting theme, just as NAZI Germany used nationalism and the labor movement as a front to conduct political conquest. The goal is to depose certain government leaders, and install other leaders in their place, and to conquer territory and expand political power of the ruling class. Osama bin Laden has no more goal than to replace the current Saud family dynasty in Saudi Arabia with a bin Laden dynasty, with himself in power. The Taliban are using religion as a means of enforcing terrorism and preventing the rise of opposition, not for any deep-seated religious beliefs. Neither the Taliban, nor bin Laden, nor Saddam Hussein, nor Hezbollah, nor Islamic Jihad, nor any other group that is actively pursuing these war goals, are doing so strictly for religious reasons. That may be why some members of the group are working, but the LEADERS are involved solely for personal and political gain.
Second, this is not a war of Islam against Christianity, or even Islam against non-believers. This is a war of a few politically motivated men using the ruse of a particular brand of extremist Islamic beliefs to motivate others to do their will. Most Islamic nations would openly defy these terrorists if they were not afraid for themselves and their own political, social, and cultural continuity. These radical elements are waging a war against EVERYONE not of their particular group.
