Post by shmeep on Jan 26, 2006 15:25:00 GMT -5
Here's a rant from my brother. I'm putting it here instead of in the Rants board because it has an awful lot to do with current events.
So here's a rant (blame Elaine for this; she requested more rants). You know how Bush is always going on about "freedom is on the march" and how basically turning countries into democracies magically turns them peaceful and pro-America? Like the theory for being in Iraq (after WMD's, terrorist ties and all that poppycock) is that we could force a country to hold elections, become a democracy, then democracy would spread throughout the middle east, and that would ensure cheaper oil, better protection for us and Israel, and peace and love for all. So here's the funny thing: Probably as a reaction to Bush and his policies, many countries that are having elections are increasingly rejecting all things US, and democratically electing the Bushies' worst nightmares.
In Lebanon- many parliamentary seats were recently gained by the pro-Syrian types.
In Iraq- the recent election was a rejection of of the pro-US secular parties, and there'll be an Islamist Shiite majority in Parliament (partnered with the Kurds, who'll play ball with them to get their autonomy in the north). So we've replaced a secular dictator who was a natural buffer against Iran, with a hard line Islamist government, who will now be allied with Iran. Top leaders in Iraq have already warned the US against taking any action in Iran.
Iran- The election of their current way-hardline president was probably also an overreaction to the threat they were feeling from the US. If tensions hadn't been so high (and if we hadn't invaded their next door neighbor), the moderate youths of the country probably would've gone for another reformer. It was their version of the "security vote."
Egypt- In recent elections, parties like the Muslim Brotherhood (??I think) picked up a lot of seats, and as they're attempting to actually be somewhat of a democracy, that's an opening for more Islamists to take seats.
And of course this extends beyond the middle east. In our own hemisphere, leftist reformers have continued their rejection of far-right tyrannical regimes, and have increased their anti-US rhetoric. So we've got Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile and others electing socialists, nationalizing oil fields, feeding and housing their poor, and all that other anti-American crap.
And finally, one of the biggest pickles for the Bushies is what just happened with the Palestinians. Hamas unexpectedly won their parliamentary elections by a landslide. So....they're democratically elected, so freedom is on the march, but we've declared them a terrorist organization, so our government says it will refuse to deal with them.
So maybe it's not that they "hate us for our freedom." Maybe they just hate us.
So here's a rant (blame Elaine for this; she requested more rants). You know how Bush is always going on about "freedom is on the march" and how basically turning countries into democracies magically turns them peaceful and pro-America? Like the theory for being in Iraq (after WMD's, terrorist ties and all that poppycock) is that we could force a country to hold elections, become a democracy, then democracy would spread throughout the middle east, and that would ensure cheaper oil, better protection for us and Israel, and peace and love for all. So here's the funny thing: Probably as a reaction to Bush and his policies, many countries that are having elections are increasingly rejecting all things US, and democratically electing the Bushies' worst nightmares.
In Lebanon- many parliamentary seats were recently gained by the pro-Syrian types.
In Iraq- the recent election was a rejection of of the pro-US secular parties, and there'll be an Islamist Shiite majority in Parliament (partnered with the Kurds, who'll play ball with them to get their autonomy in the north). So we've replaced a secular dictator who was a natural buffer against Iran, with a hard line Islamist government, who will now be allied with Iran. Top leaders in Iraq have already warned the US against taking any action in Iran.
Iran- The election of their current way-hardline president was probably also an overreaction to the threat they were feeling from the US. If tensions hadn't been so high (and if we hadn't invaded their next door neighbor), the moderate youths of the country probably would've gone for another reformer. It was their version of the "security vote."
Egypt- In recent elections, parties like the Muslim Brotherhood (??I think) picked up a lot of seats, and as they're attempting to actually be somewhat of a democracy, that's an opening for more Islamists to take seats.
And of course this extends beyond the middle east. In our own hemisphere, leftist reformers have continued their rejection of far-right tyrannical regimes, and have increased their anti-US rhetoric. So we've got Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile and others electing socialists, nationalizing oil fields, feeding and housing their poor, and all that other anti-American crap.
And finally, one of the biggest pickles for the Bushies is what just happened with the Palestinians. Hamas unexpectedly won their parliamentary elections by a landslide. So....they're democratically elected, so freedom is on the march, but we've declared them a terrorist organization, so our government says it will refuse to deal with them.
So maybe it's not that they "hate us for our freedom." Maybe they just hate us.
