I am no expert on Tunisia, the former French colony in North Africa. Like many, I have not been following what is going on there very closely. Perhaps, we all should. In basic tems, the people have risen up against their dictator, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. He has been forced to flee the country to Saudi Arabia in the wake of violent protests by a populace angry over the dire economic situation and brutal police rule in the nation. Not surprisingly, other governments in the Maghreb and in the Arab world are worried that the revolt will spread to their own dictatorial nations. If it does, the West can only hope that they will be replaced by democratic rule that respects the peoples' rights.
Meanwhile, there are the radical observers in the West, people like "journalist" Yvonne Ridley in Great Britain, who hates Israel and the US. I picked up this hysterical little message from Yvonne on an American Muslim Student Association website She not only attacks the Tunisian dictator and their government, but directs her anger also at the US.
http://muslimmatters.org/2011/01/15/yvonne-ridley-tonight-we-are-all-tunisians/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Ridley is obviously a proud graduate of the Keith Olbermann School of Journalism.
You see, Ridley's main concern seems to be that Tunisia was allied with the US (It has been considered a "moderate" nation.) I am not sure what she wants the US to do about this violence in Tunisia, but here is President Obama's statement:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7892314-obama-calls-for-free-and-fair-tunisia-elections
So tell me, Ridley, what do you want the US to do? Even if our statements arrived later than you would have liked, what should we have done? Invade Tunisia? I would also like to ask Ridley what kind of government she would like to see come to power in Tunisia and the region-one that is democratic, free and friendly to the West?
Or one that is Islamic and hostile to the West?.
I think that in parts of the Muslim world it is better for U.S. interests if there is a strong dictatorial govt to keep a clamp on the population. I will wager that there will soon be a regime in Tunisia, just across the water from our allies, that is of radical Islamist bent. If it serves our strategic purposes to support "strongmen" then so be it. Realpolitik I think it is called.
ReplyDeleteIf it serves our strategic purposes to support "strongmen" then so be it. Realpolitik I think it is called.
ReplyDeleteYeah, what could POSSIBLY go wrong?
Yee-ikes!
Lance the safety of the United States and our allies is my primary concern. Take Egypt for instance, it now has a repressive govt that keeps a clamp on extremism. When it falls, as it will eventually do, then we will see the spectre of an Islamic nation likely led by religious extremists. Egypt is next door to Israel and of course has control of the Suez Canal. Not a good scenario for the West (or Israel). Is it moral to support repressive regimes? Perpaps not. Is it necessary in some cases? Absolutely. Or are you one of those that think that "democracy" will work in that area of the world? The "nation" of Palestine now has Hamas in positions of power. They were "elected" if I am not mistaken. I think also that Iraq will devolve into chaos before it is all said and done.
ReplyDeleteI think also that Iraq will devolve into chaos before it is all said and done.
ReplyDeleteWe probably wouldn't even be in Iraq if not for our habit of supporting "strongmen" in the first place. Is the irony lost on you here?
You silly, silly man.
ReplyDeleteWhat I expected Obama to do was condemn a brutal government for firing live ammunition at its own people killing more than 100 unarmed civilians - or do you find that sort of behaviour acceptable.
tell me why America says it promotes democracy and then it goes on to blindly support some of the vilest dictators in the world. Don't forget, Saddam was 'their man' until he decided to privatise oil.
And no, I didn't expect the US to invade - it's interfered in the running of enough countries and can't handle the situation it is in in Afghanistan right now. In fact really, when did the US single handedly ever win a war outright and victorious? Arguably the last time was when Britain capitulated and let you keep the American colonies.
Why do some Americans think violence is always the answer? We know from events in Tuscon and elsewhere violence is seen as a solution by some and is reaching epidemic proportions from within your own society. It's time to tread a peaceful path now, don't you think?
Reading the comments of your followers most of them endorse tyrants and promote violence when it is in US interests. Do you feel any more secure? (Rhetorical question by the way)
i have many friends in the USA, people of faith and no faith, and frankly they are fed up because of all the liberty and freedom they've lost at home. Think about it.
No the irony is not lost. I think that perhaps it would have been better to leave Saddam alone to counter balance Iran. Of course there was the possiblitiy of WMD and I suppose I take the last admin at their word. The problem as I see it is that Middle Eastern Muslim nations (and others such as Pakistan) may well "vote" fundamentalist Islamics into power or more likely the fundamentalists take power. Keep an eye on Lebanon for instance. See what that country will soon become. It is in our best interest for these nations to have dictatorial govts that are "friendly" with the West. If that means repression for the inhabitants that is a shame but perhaps necessary for the safety of the West. That is after all what is important. The only thing important as I see it.
ReplyDeleteGeorge W Bush believed that bringing democracy to that part of the world would lead to an end to radicalism. The problem is that they have never known democracy. I just wish we could wash our hands of the whole mess. For one thing, I am tired of being the world's policeman. Unfortunately, Islamic extremism is a clear and present danger to the whole world. I am getting to the point where I could care less whether they live in freedom or not. My concern is free countries like ours maintaining our own freedom.
ReplyDeleteI just wish we could wash our hands of the whole mess. For one thing, I am tired of being the world's policeman.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is free countries like ours maintaining our own freedom.
Well said.
As for BC, I'll just say this: I hope you're wrong, but I'm worried that you might be right.
Yvonne Ridley... what an irrelevant windbag. No, we are not all Tunisians. People who actually live in Tunisia have to solve this one. All kinds of people around the world will offer impotent advice, or try to seriously meddle in the situation, but its not our call to make.
ReplyDeleteIt is a legitimate point that the U.S. has gotten itself into a very dangerous situation, where the only political force we can rely on is a series of brutal dictatorships to preserve "stability," making us, in the eyes of the people of one country after another, accomplices. We need to find a way out of that, without promoting the Muslim Brotherhood, which is probably the most popular and certainly the best organized alternative in many nations, including Egypt.
If we had left Mossadegh alone in Iran in 1953, we wouldn't be dealing with Khomeini's Islamic Republic today.
(The operative phrase, Cabbie, is "which it will eventually do." Those regimes ARE going to fall, and if we don't come up with a better policy, they WILL be replaced by the kind of hostile regimes you rightly worry about.)
Ms Ridley,
ReplyDeleteI only found your silly, silly comment tonight. It had been understandably relegated to the spam department by blogspot.
It is unbelievable that you are actually a journalist by profession-your writing is horrific.
As far as all these countries you talk about, I think we should just get out of all of them. They are a lost cause that will never be democratic. The solution is to build a big wall around them-nobody gets in and more importantly, nobody gets out.
As for you, you are a total idiot. If I cared enough to be awake at 4 am, I might try to catch a glimpse of you trying to disrupt the BIG WEDDING with your barbarian pal Anjem Choudary or that other clown George Galloway. But I will be fast asleep because I really don't care what happens over there in your has-been country.