When Baron Von Frankenstein created his monster, undoubtedly he felt a great sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction. Just think of the prestige, the glory and riches that would follow for such a scientific breakthrough. If one considers how valuable and useful a big, strong, obedient creature could be, it is easy to fathom all the dirty jobs its master could delegate to it.
Western governments may have taken a peek at the good doctor’s notes, as they, too, have always thought it cool to have a few monsters under its control. Engaging in its own sick geopolitical science experiment, the west undertook a collaborative effort in the manufacturing of these creatures. With parts supplied from the US, the French, the Brits, the Germans, the Italians and others, these monsters have been given life.
From South America to the Middle East and everywhere in between, western nations have raised, supported, groomed and encouraged their hideous protégés to manage their messy affairs. After careful inspection and a few loyalty tests to determine their trustworthiness, the creatures are let loose in their assigned territories.
For those interested to know what those loyalty tests are: the monster’s appetite for violence is monitored; the monster’s willingness to oppress those in his charge is a major marker; and above all, his tolerance for corruption is verified. If a creature shows he has the stomach for brutal behavior, but can keep a secret, he is given the keys to his own kingdom.
As long as the monsters kept order wherever they were charged to do so, these creatures were rewarded with wealth beyond their wildest imaginations. Unfortunately, as in most horror tales, with the passage of time, monsters want more than rewards for a job well done, no matter how grand.
Jets, palaces and dancing girls will only satisfy a monster for so long. Eventually, the monster wants respect. He wants a seat at the adult’s table. He wants to be like his master. Sadly, since he was never programmed for humanity, least of all manners, he can never be allowed to be a part of the western inner circle. In reality, his very creation is to be denied.
The west can never be seen providing their creatures with respect publicly. They can’t let it be known they were responsible for the decades of tyranny, torture, poverty and hopelessness their creatures caused. Millions are spent on professional writers drafting policy statements admonishing their monster’s actions to keep themselves guilt free. Besides, if a monster is afforded respect, it could get the idea it is an equal.
In western eyes, equality for monsters is a non-starter if they want to maintain global control. After all, they were created for the sole purpose of keeping the gas stations open and whatever other natural resources flowing to western shores unimpeded.
When pushed into a corner, inevitably, benign respect is sparingly doled out, but by this time the monster is only temporarily assuaged. If only these creatures weren’t unintentionally programmed to learn, the west could have maintained monsters around the world with impunity.
When the monster finally realizes he will never be accepted as a full member of the real ruling class, many times, he'll strike out against his keeper's interest with blind anger. In the case of Gaddafi, he has threatened to go house-to-house killing anyone he thinks opposes his rule. If that were the extent of his terror, perhaps the west could make allowances, but should he pull a Saddam Hussein, torching his oil fields, that would constitute the ultimate tragedy.
Here is where the western nations begin to fear the monsters they have created. Like a horribly neglected child or an abused pit-bull pup, monsters don’t stay small forever. They grow; they get more powerful; they become unstable and defiant.
This twisted fate of western governments is one of its own making and to hope a crazed, out of control monster like Muammar al-Gaddafi would take Mary Shelly’s benevolent monster’s way out is highly unlikely.