marginmike.
((historically countries America has occupied have faired excedingly well. France, Germany, Japan, south Korea etc. With the exception of Vietnam where America has rebuilt societies and left. I would be hard pressed to see how America changed Korea, German, or Japanese culture while improving their democratic systems and instilling the Capitalism that makes those nations thrive.))
Even though I am highly critical of super-power politics, in many cases the U.S. has conferred many benefits to countries it has occupied providing (a) they were strategically important, and (b) they were capable of developing an industrial middle class. So there's a good side to the story.
Unfortunately, you have the backing of brutally repressive, often fascist regimes that is the other side of the American legacy. Starting in the early 50's when the Dulles brothers headed up the CIA and the State Department respectively, you had toppling of democratically-elected governments in Iran, then Guatemala, then Indonesia, then comes the horrible legacy of Vietnam and Cambodia, the terrible legacy of the 70's and 80's in Latin & Central America, the support of Saddam & the Batthist party in Iraq of course to counter the revolution in Iran. And on and on.
It's when the American's pull the old imperialist "government by proxy" trick that things seem to go so badly. Obviously it's not just a matter of the U.S., but a reflection of the evolutionary stage of our common humanity.
But after the Cold War, there seemed like there was so much hope. And it seemed to me that the U.S. was in a position to influence the world in such a positive way. But instead, Western elites (not just the U.S.) plan a global power grab, trigger war in the European and Asian balkans (a la Brezinski), and have the IMF and World Bank implement "Washington Consensus" type financial regimes that put corporate interests above human interests. It's all so sad.
Regarding Iraqis, I honestly don't know many first hand. But I know many Muslims, and funny enough, they appear to want the same kind of things I want, to see their children grow up, get an education, have enough food on their plate, by in control of their own destiny, yadda, yadda. I have learned enough about Islam from my Muslim friends to know that it is one of the world's great religious traditions - and has provided the same moral, spiritual, and societal guidance that all great religions, such as Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, provide their peoples.
However, you fu** people over enough, and its funny how an extreme sentiment can develop amongst a minority or majority, which can justify the most cruel acts upon members of our fellow humanity.
Regarding "extreme" Muslim clerics ... I mean call me crazy, but there is nothing inherent in Islam that necessitates extremism, any more than there is in Christianity. You oppress a people consistently and brutally enough, however, and spiritual and secular leaders will arise appealing to the basest of human emotions.
Besides, nurturing extremist sentiment in the Middle East and elsewhere to my mind is a matter of explicit geopolitical policy. I mean, if we treated peoples in such locales with fairness and dignity, my god, they might actually come to think they deserve to govern their own affairs. Can't have that. What if they decide not to serve as colonial outposts to the West. Quite a dilemma. Better to keep oppressing the peoples, and the great thing is, it will product extreme religious and secular leaders, who can then justify us going in a bombing the sh** out of them. It's a wonderful strategy if you value power and control above all else.
Anyway, just some random thoughts on a Saturday afternoon.
Best regards,
Glenn |
