Supporting Dictators

[Comrade]

Yes, America did support many right-wing dictators in their grabs for power.
Too many dismiss the importance of the Cold War as a guiding factor in American foreign policy.
It was a matter of national defense!
Another pro-Soviet communist country is yet another stepping stone to the encirclement of America and the loss of all hope of democracy. The true evil is the lack of immediate action to remove these dictators as soon as they were no longer bulwarks against the Soviet Union.

I just get tired of people complaining, "But we are the ones who put (insert Taliban, Saddam, etc. whom we are trying to remove here)!"

How is this an arguement against removing them? It isn't. It is quite irrelevent as to whether they should be removed or not.

[Suburbanite]

It is hardly irrelevent. You're right, it is not case and point either. However, is Bush Sr. establishes Group Y, and then Bush Jr. kills Group Y, doesn't that come off as fishy to you?

[Comrade]

Not particularly. I've never put much credit into the whole family vendetta conspiracy theory. Until someone can give me a reason that isn't absurd that they would do such a thing, that's the way I will continue believe.

As for irrelevancy, I do not see how us being once-upon-a-time a patron of someone seen as the lesser of two evils in the Iran-Iraq war is grounds for doing nothing against him.

[Suburbanite]

I agree with that last part, but the first part of your paragraph just shows that if someone does show you something, you'll dismiss it, so there isn't much point in going on is there?

[Comrade]

I guess that's one way to make differentiating between reasonable arguements and unreasonable ones sound bad. You should run for office.

[Suburbanite]

Not a bad idea.

[Comrade]

Or maybe go for O'Reilley's job :)

[Osborn F Enready]

Comrade, that is some opinion you got there. You know what they say about opinions though....

The fact is, yes it is quite relevant. My government is acting in my name, as I am one of we the people. If our government would have focused more on showing the positive side of capitalism, instead of fighting the concept of communism, it could have worked out better for everyone. Vietnam, Cuban Missile Crisis, all about communism supposedly, though if you check you will see there was much more going on then they let on for over 20 years after the fact.

I thing you have brought up the point of most of our problem in the U.S. Since WWII we feel like we need to "force" our way, our ideals, our form of government, our concept of society on every other SOVERIGN nation on the globe. If we would lead by example, it might work a lot better than by chasing the opponents around with a stick.
Look at our history of trade sanctions, and tell me we haven't done more to keep third world countries third world countries, supposedly in our war against communism.

I think you make some pretty blanket statements that are pretty one sided, but hey, that is just my opinion....

And on your vendetta issue, how would you feel about the man who put a price on your dads head?

[Evil Baby]

You see the problem is that those right wing dictators you helped were not elected by the people of that country. You forced your views on them because you felt that your views were better then their own views. It just so happens a little side effect of things brutal dictators being allowed to run these countries was a few thousands deaths here and few thousands deaths there all so you could save America. I see that as pretty unfair


and by you(I mean most of the Western world, not just America)

[Suburbanite]

Originally posted by Comrade, Or maybe go for O'Reilley's job :)

Low blow! haha

[Kyran]

[QUOTE,]And on your vendetta issue, how would you feel about the man who put a price on your dads head?[/quote]

Hey! Who said Dubya had feelings?

No really, that's the best emotion-logic argument thus far I've seen suggesting motive for action against Iraq. Kudos.

[Mr.Vicchio]

America isn't always right, but its better then any alternative out there.

Imagine if we had forced our way of life on Germany after WWI?

Think about that.

[PatrickHenry]

Originally posted by Mr.Vicchio, America isn't always right, but its better then any alternative out there. Imagine if we had forced our way of life on Germany after WWI? Think about that.

Hitler actually won the elections. Then a state of emergency was declared after "terrorists" burned the seat of government. By the time the US realized things weren't going "our" way, it was too late and the monster had grown too powerful. That and the US industrialist and financiers helping the Nazi war machine gear up. Prescott Bush, W's grampaw, was one of the movers on that and had to be stopped by the 'trading with the enemy act' in 1942.

[Mr.Vicchio]

PH... I can't subscribe to these deluded fantasies of powerful men creating evil for profit.. I just cant.. sorry.

There is no nobility in supporting evil. Those who support evil, are supporting evil, period. Just like those who support terrorists or terrorism are also targeted in the war on terror.

[PatrickHenry]

Suit yourself.

PatrickHenry

Amazing that people don't understand history isn't it. Perhaps they simply don't read, who knows. I concur with you.

[Osborn F Enready]

Damn Pat, once again well said. Where are you from, anywhere around Ohio?? I suddenly wanna buy you a beer and chit chat after seeing how much we agree on so many things....

[SeanWah]

PeterWolf -- while I wish the world could be that black and white, it rarely ever is.

Take, for instance, our support of Islamic "freedom fighters" during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. They were the mighty cheese at the time, THE people to align yourself with, and then they turn around and harbor the same kind of "evil terrorists" that attack America.

Well, such is the nature of the world: the good guys aren't always so good, the bad guys not always so bad. In the world of politics, there are no absolutes.

[Osborn F Enready]

Your right, when you let your nation act based on politicians and not the will of the people, you get "politics". Blame what you will.