Re: Marc Cooper: we should not try to stop the war

["David Quarter" <davidquarter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Louis wrote:

about the only silver lining in this American
misadventure for the Iraqi people is that it does the spell the end of
one of the most barbaric 30-year dictatorships on the face of the Earth.>>>>


David:

I think there is worse examples of barbarism in the world (and even
in the middle east). That being said, I doubt we should expect to
see any change in the treatment afforded to the Iraqi people
following "regime change". Just look at more recent examples:
Yugoslavia -- a relatively decent -- and democratic  government
(which is pretty incredible under the circumstances it was
operating)  was, with the aid of the CIA and quisling elements wihin
the country, replaced by a pro-western, neo-conversative
authoritarian clique. Since that time, most of the countries
resources (including worker operated companies) have been
aunctioned off to western investors (at a fraction of their value), and
many political opponents of the regime have been either jailed,
murdered, or transfered to the U.S. operated so-called "war crimes
court" in the Hague. A more recent example is Afghanistan -- an
extremely oppressive regime run by a small clique of religious
fundamentalist (previously installed by the U.S., though the work of
the Pakistani secret service) is replaced by a extremely oppressive
regime run by a small clique of religious fundamentalists (and this
time directly installed by the U.S.) ! There has been little if any
noticeable improvement for the lives of Afghan people and, apart
from what the Sontags of the world suggest, the treatment of
women has remained as it was under the Taliban.

Of course, once a servile regime has been installed in Iraq, the
U.S. media will put their usual spin on things, which the facts on
the ground will of course dispute.

DOQ