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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cosmicforce who wrote (34509)	10/20/2001 12:30:27 AM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

Saudi Arabia is not a puppet government. They are not a democracy either but that doesn't make them a puppet. The same could be said for the Phillipines and Panama. Who was Argentina a puppet of? Some of the other examples do make your point fairly well. Tim

To: cosmicforce who wrote (34509)	10/20/2001 6:53:33 PM
From: Lazarus_Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

Should I explain the meaning of the word "sometimes"?

To: cosmicforce who wrote (34509)	10/22/2001 12:16:22 PM
From: thames_sider	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

I don't know about Japan, but I'd question whether post-WWII West Germany was a puppet of the US; certainly once Allied occupation finished, anyhow, its government was its own. A fervent ally, yes - given the example to its east, and the memories of its leaders - but independently run. I think the differences were that it was seen as part of Europe, so there were very strong vested interests in Europe and the US in keeping WG healthy as a bulwark (and front line) against Stalinism. And the immense quantities of aid and reconstruction supplied by the US - with, IMO, good not ulterior motives - made the difference. A lot of the other countries on the list - and I'd add places like Angola or Zaire as classic examples of attempts - were similarly viewed as props against communism, or to prop up 'capitalist' systems (democratic or not): but the aid supplied was basically military, rather than for the construction of a country. In WG, we were much more foresighted. And I think that the Japanese example shows that a high level of democracy can be imposed even when there was no previous experience.