US Army at 250: Celebrating Half-Truths, Full Blunders & Future Osamas
Will It Continue Financing Terror Training with Pakistan or Join India in Neutralizing It?
By Special Correspondent – International Affairs
As the United States Army blows out 250 candles on its military birthday cake this year on 14th June, the world joins in—some in applause, many in quiet concern, and a few in outright fear. After all, when an army known for dropping “freedom” bombs, funding covert wars, and occasionally misplacing its own weapons celebrates its legacy, the party can easily feel like a prelude to the next geopolitical disaster.
This year’s celebrations come with a bonus twist: a senior US Army General invited Pakistani officials to their military parade—because nothing says “we’ve learned from history” like cozying up to the same country that harbored Osama Bin Laden and helped create Al-Qaeda. The alarms shouldn’t just ring—they should roar.
It’s a convenient moment to remember that a few American strategists were the original producers of the global terror series starring Osama Bin Laden and funded the pilot episode called “Operation Mujahideen” to defeat the Soviets. When it all backfired, the rerun was branded as the “War on Terror”, a neatly packaged American Dream that conveniently shifted blame, rewrote scripts, and sold global conflict as a security subscription.
“You’re Either With Us…” — Or Are You?
Let’s rewind to September 20, 2001, when President George W. Bush famously declared, “You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Fast forward to today, and it seems the phrase needs updating: “You’re either with India or you’re with strategic confusion.”
India has already endured betrayal under the romantic slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai” which ended in bullets, not brotherhood. And while the US cozied up with Pakistan—an expert in double-speak and double agents—India leaned on the then-Soviet Union for support, particularly as America’s covert games played out violently across South Asia. With history repeating itself in a different uniform, India today has shed the dependency mindset and is boldly marching toward becoming a superpower in its own right—built on discipline, not destruction.
The US Army: Two and a Half Centuries of “Oops”
Founded in 1775 to throw off colonial rule (ironically paving the way for its own colonial-style missions), the US Army has spent a quarter of a millennium galloping across continents, often “spreading democracy” like a bull in a china shop. From Vietnam to Iraq to Afghanistan, the playbook has remained eerily consistent—invade, destabilize, exit, and repeat.
And yet, defence experts around the world are left wondering—will the 250th anniversary be marked by another fireworks display of flawed diplomacy? Will a few old-school American officials once again try to test their shiny new toys by assembling Osama Bin Laden 2.0 somewhere between drone strikes and peace talks?
America’s Greatest Hit: Osama Bin Laden & Friends
Among the more questionable accomplishments of the US military lies its Cold War masterpiece—Operation Let’s Create Global Terror. In a frantic bid to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, the US didn’t just arm the Mujahideen—it effectively handed them the recipe book for jihadist insurgency. Osama Bin Laden wasn’t born in a vacuum; he was manufactured, funded, and equipped—thanks to the generosity of American taxpayers and the eager facilitation of their local franchisee: Pakistan.
For decades, the Pentagon’s dirtiest secret (and worst strategic decision) was its long-standing bromance with Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex. Under the banner of “anti-Communism,” the US enabled Pakistan to churn out terrorist outfits like a backyard factory. And when it all went south, Washington did what it does best—walked away with a “Mission Accomplished” banner, leaving the rest of the world to clean up the mess.
Bin Laden, the face of “unintended consequences,” wasn’t found hiding in a cave in Tora Bora as Hollywood would like us to believe. He was discovered comfortably living in Abbottabad, a stone’s throw from Pakistan’s top military academy. Coincidence? Hardly. Shock? Not even remotely.
Adding insult to historical injury, a senior US Army General recently praised Pakistan as a “key strategic partner” and extended an invitation for friendly diplomatic talks. This, mere months after Pakistan’s own Defence Minister publicly admitted on television that his country has been doing the West’s “dirty work” for over 30 years. With this context, one can’t help but wonder—are a few American officials preparing to launch Osama: The Sequel?
Indian Army: The Real 24-Carat Gold Standard
Now, contrast this with the Indian Army—one of the world’s most disciplined, ethical, and strategically mature military forces. The Indian Army has never needed to outsource its strength to warlords, terror groups, or mercenary regimes. Instead, it has earned global respect through acts of true courage and constructive action.
From holding the world’s highest battlefield at Siachen, to conducting successful and precise surgical strikes, from leading some of the largest United Nations Peacekeeping Missions to being the first responders in disaster zones across borders—the Indian Army doesn’t just defend borders; it sets global benchmarks.
Its soldiers build bridges in flood-affected areas while defending Line of Control at night. They protect not only India’s sovereignty but also uphold values of humanity, even extending aid to foreign nations during crisis. Most importantly, India’s armed forces have never built terror groups, never harbored fugitives, and never played both sides of a global conflict. That, in today’s age, is the mark of a truly responsible superpower.
250 Years Later: Still Learning?
As the US Army commemorates 250 years of battlefield bravado, blurred morals, and botched missions, perhaps it’s time to swap the military parade for a global workshop titled:
“How Not to Train the Enemy Who’ll Attack You Later.”
Pakistan’s Defence Minister can be the keynote speaker, considering how well he seems to know the syllabus.
Diplomatically speaking, we congratulate the US Army on reaching its 250th anniversary. Undiplomatically speaking, we hope the next 250 years are filled with more accountability, less absurdity and choosing your partners wisely.