Around 2009, I remember the news touting the success of an U.S. air strike in Yemen that killed 14 Al Qaeda operatives – including Anwar al Awlaki, thought to be an Al Qaeda leader and ideologue. Video footage of the airstrike was shown repeatedly on the 24 hour news cycle and was hailed a “win” in the war against terrorism.
Although U.S. intelligence officials identified the hit as a training camp comprised only of Al Qaeda fighters, this camp was not in a remote location. Many reports confirm this camp was based centrally in a small town resulting in forty-one civilian deaths. As political pundits casually referred to the loss of life as “collateral damage”, I couldn’t help but wonder… aren’t all those lacking power and wealth collateral damage?
Collateral damage is military terminology used generally to describe deaths, injuries, or other damage inflicted on unintended targets. Obviously, war isn’t pretty and these types of deaths are the natural result of conflict. But let’s be real, some people are more likely to be collateral damage than others.
On the latest episode of the popular HBO series Billions, Bobby Axelrod (Axe) received a very special gift for his birthday from his employee and friend. It was a $360,000 down payment on a spot for Axe and his family in an opulent, fully-fortified, underground bunker made for lodging during a catastrophic event. Axe, a billionaire himself, somewhat scoffed at the idea of waiting for the mayhem to end with other pampered billionaires. After all, he could build his own bunker or use one – or both of his private jets to fly him and his family to a secluded island for safety. But, isn’t that where the rubber meets the road?
As much as the elite try to convince us otherwise, keeping you and your loved ones safe during war is all that matters. Ironically, very few people have the luxury to ensure this outcome. While Bobby Axelrod is a fictitious character, the monetary strength he represents is far from unreal. Well connected men and women – with tremendous wealth, advocate war everyday. The catch is, they will never see a battlefield or experience the “unintended consequences” of war.
Check out this real life luxury underground bunker.
Essentially, our world leaders and the super rich can gamble with actions that might incite international conflict because their families will be safely whisked away from danger. Their children will only hear the bombs, yet feel none of them. It’s only the rest of us that will truly know what it means to be collateral damage should war break out on American soil.
So, if you’re like me, and don’t have a billion dollars to your name, we literally can’t afford to advocate war. Praising drone strikes, unreasonable displays of force, and tough talk, is easy to do, from the comfort of your suburban home or over priced condo. These actions are much harder to praise watching buildings burn while frantically rummaging through broken concrete and shattered glass for missing family members.
But make no mistake; if war happens here, unless you’re like Bobby Axelrod with a million dollar spot reserved in a secret bunker, hoping to survive the chaos will also be your end.
That’s why it’s in our collective interest to promote deterrence, peace talks, and compromise. Most importantly, we must demand that our leaders do the same.
