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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kevin Rose who wrote (378605)	3/25/2003 1:29:14 PM
From: Machaon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

<< The peoples of the individual Arab nations are going to have to stand up and some point and say 'enough'. >> The Arab people are brainwashed, both by the Koran and by government controlled news. They are force-fed stories about Israelis using the blood of Arab children for religious rites, of Christians, Jews and Hindus being evil. Hmmmm!? They just showed little Iraqi children being given candy by American soldiers. This is probably the first kindness, from people in uniform, that these children have ever witnessed. These poor children have seen nothing but suffering and brutality all of their lives. I wonder how long it is going to take for the Iraqi children to act like normal kids? I wonder how long it would be if the appeasers got their way, and American didn't save the children of Iraq? << I believe only a secular government can guarantee the rights of all individuals (although it is not the only* requirement for a fair government).* >> I agree. Either one wants a government based on merits and ability, or one based on superstition and witch doctors. Most religious leaders, to me, are nothing more than a mafia that peddles air instead of drugs. There has been more brutality, torture and deprivation because of organized religion, than all the other forms of organized crime combined. << However, remember that we supported these despots when we say fit, in the context of the Cold War and building 'allies'. >> The real question is: What choice did we have, but to support them, or overthrow them. America can't overthrow every corrupt thug in the world. So, sometimes we've got to deal with the lesser piece of shit. For instance, we've decided to "support" Saudi Arabia's bastard leaders, and not Iraq. << The Shah and Saddam (and to some degree, the Saudis) have caused many Arabs to view 'western style governments' as corrupt. >> The Shah was brutal to his political enemies. But, to most of the people in Iran, the quality of life was much better under the Shah. The Shah has gotten a bum rap. << We supported the leaders even when they formed regimes that were not fair or democratic. >> China is like that. What do we do. If we support China by trading with them, then everyone says that we support China. What would you do with China. Isolate them? Don't trade with them? Or, trade with them, work with them, try to get them to adopt democratic reforms? << We need to make sure we do a better job this time, and not try to mold something that we want, but that their people can call their own. >> Easier said than done. We have to work with the hand we are dealt. For instance, what do we do with Venezuela? They've got a brutal nutcase for a leader. We made a big mistake by not supporting the coup de tat, that happened last year. We blew a chance to help the people there, and now they are stuck with a real piece of crap.