fo·ment (f-mnt)
tr.v. fo·ment·ed, fo·ment·ing, fo·ments
1. To promote the growth of; incite.
2. To treat (the skin, for example) by fomentation.
Over the past week, I’ve heard and read the western media repeatedly use this word in reference to Iran. I comes from Middle English fomenten: “to apply warm liquids to the skin.” At some point, people began using it to mean the first definition: “incite”, perhaps mistaking the word for “ferment.”
At any rate, according to the United States, Iran is “fomenting violence” in Iraq. So, are they applying warm liquid to it or inciting it? Well, therein lies the debate. Iran denies it, but it doesn’t matter anyway. The real fomentation is coming from Washington. They’ve been wanted to attack Iran for quite some time (when I say “they” I mean the Bush administration…others in Washington want to avoid confrontation with Iran).
Make no mistake about it. It was no accident that the U.S. occupied Afghanistan and Iraq (both Iranian neighbors). They needed bases on either side of Iran to contain them. They had no intention of ever leaving Iraq, and what better way to legitimize staying than to “foment violence.” So, perhaps the accusations are misled.
It is a horrible situation, and it will only get worse if Americans do not stand up and stop Bush from pursuing his sick version of Manifest Destiny. Thousands, perhaps even millions of innocent people will die, and for what? In 20 years, the oil will be gone. And Bush, if he’s not dead, he’ll probably be a very old useless man. Is it really worth it, even to him? Get a life! Stop trying to control other people’s.
