Using the most sophisticated state of the art technology, America along with its coalition partners have achieved their objectives concerning the liberation of Kuwait. Superior strategic and technical advisers have directed their air and ground forces to devastate military targets with pinpoint accuracy, with minimum loss of life to the civilian population. It took just 100 hrs to oust the Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Thousands of Iraqi soldiers surrendered bedraggled and demoralised, many crying and elated that this brief conflict was at an end. On entering the cities of Kuwait the media gave the world an insight into the systematic ruination of an affluent society.
The three figures represent: left of centre is Saddam Hussein a tyrant, sinister yet still in power in Iraq, knowing full well he has brought his country into military and economic ruin. As a force in the middle east, he is politically finished.
Right of centre represents the mainly Christian coalition, giving it the guise of a righteous adversary as in the early crusades, in reality nothing more than a lethal killing machine.
Centre, this man represents all the innocent victims trapped in the wake of a disturbed, confused, war torn, defeated Iraq. This also includes the thousands of Kuwaiti hostages taken to strategic sites to be used as human shields. Not forgetting the plight of the Kurdish nation within Iraq. A proud nation seeking freedom and autonomy away from direct rule of Baghdad.
I have placed the handle of the rudder into his right hand symbolising that these people desperately want to steer their own destiny. The black bird like figure represents the dark forces at work that would undermine their struggle.
The Kurds have had it rough to say the least. They have been persecuted, violated, gassed, murdered and are now being systematically starved to death. Moral issues are at the forefront of world opinion.
When the Kuwaiti government asked for support; the whole world came without question to its aid, this I am sure was due to political, strategic and above all economical pressures developing in the area. Oil being the commodity on centre stage.
The affluent western economies were destabilising due to the war, paranoia evident with the thought of mega oil price inflation. Therefore the situation constituted a possible domino effect throughout the fragile world economies. So, under the guise of "freedom for Kuwait" oil prices stabilised around the world.
The Kurds repeatedly asked for protection, but to no avail, until with assistance from the media the world saw that the Kurds were being annihilated. The coalition were seen to be deploying dual standards, the Kurds had no oil or precious commodities to barter with. All they possess is their pride and what they carry on their backs, a nation driven by despair fleeing terrified to the neighbouring mountains adjacent to the borders of Iran and Turkey.
To appease the worlds conscience the coalition countries have sent token gestures of food and medical supplies and has reluctantly stepped in to protect them. But for how long, will they pull out as soon as the dust settles ? Why in the name of humanity is SADDAM HUSSEIN still free and still in control of Iraq ? Will the Kuwaiti royal family survive in power, will the people, after fighting for their freedom accept the disproportionate abuse of wealth and power within Kuwait ?
The clouds, dark, swirling represent the inevitable damage by pollution to land, sea and air which will affect the weather world-wide.
The man in the painting; on the extreme left, represents the ordinary people of the world who have witnessed this traumatic conflict, that the media news reel instilled within our thoughts.
Has anybody spotted the elephant yet ?
In today's communicative society we find the same trend, away from large autonomous groups and towards smaller diverse groupings. This is required to prevent the chaos that comes from over-connectivity. Information overload drives chaos, yet information is also needed for progress. Governments would do well to accept devolution at all levels, as this is the population's way of self-regulating in the face of new technology. Trying to supress such movements will bring about the very chaos that they were trying to prevent, as happened in the former U.S.S.R.