DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST - LETTERS

Subject: Re: Who lost the Middle EAst?
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:14:36 -0400

To Hugh:

What is the stated purpose of American foreign policy?  To spread democracy to the rest of the world?

If this is true the US shouldn't be propping up dictators in the middle east to form puppet governments that the people of these countries despise. Although these dictators sell the oil to US, get rich, live in luxury and hug and kiss the visiting US presidents, the people of these country do not approve of these leaders and in turn don't approve of US installing them. This discontentment can be contained only so long as people feel secure about their financial futures. When the recession hit the rest of the world protests started to occur. The US with a stated policy to spread democracy cannot support the dictators over the people (even if the people support MB).

Why is the US in all these middle eastern countries? OIL. At least in the next few decades, the development and sustainability of a country will depend on how many oil well is controls around the world. It is already a known fact that China is taking over some of the oil supplying countries. Therefore the US has to increase its so called 'foreign aid' to these poor countries. All this does is to grease the hands of the corrupt and the rich in these countries, so they sell oil to the US. The  US had the ability and infrastructure to research alternate sustainable sources of energy (a small country like Netherlands has) but the oil lobbying group and the military industrial lobbying group have way too much control over the law makers. So you will see more wars being started in the next few years over the pursuit of oil and I have no doubt about this (either with Obama or Romney).

Either way I don't think we are even scratching the surface with blaming Obama/Clinton or Romney/Ryan or their predecessors. All these blame games are mere distractions. They distract us from asking the real questions.

hope all is well!

-Vijay

Sent: Sun, Sep 16, 2012 12:59 PM

To Vijay,

    I do not think the main aim of US policy is to spread democracy throughout the world.  Woodrow Wilson, in his madness, proclaimed WWI the war to end all wars, and a war to make the world safe for democracy.  The result was the Communist came to power in Russia, and in a decade, Nazis won the elections in Germany.  I grew up in Louisiana a long time ago.  I am skeptical of "democracy" when the majority of people are filled with ignorance and hatred.  And that is how I view the majority in Egypt and many Muslim nations.

    I have little doubt that the majority in Germany supported the Nazis.  And some things the Nazis did were good for the nation.  But overall, the Nazi reign was a disaster, for Germany, for Europe, and for the world.  I am not sure the Communists ever had a majoirty support in the USSR.  Even if they did, another disaster.  And militant Islam, I now see as a threat to free speech all over the world.  Killings in the Netherlands, fatwas against Salman Rushdie and Gerd Wilders, and others who dispute their holy book and their Prophet.  I have seen some of the film that angers them.  It is like an unfunny Saturday Night Live piece - and I do not think SNL funny either.  But I do not go out to kill NBC comedians.  That Obama and Hillary, with her Muslim Brotherhood advisor, begin by condemning a tiny film, rather than the murderous Muslims, says volumes

   Mubarek brought stability to Egypt and the Middle East.  Geroge Soros, the google guy, Facebook, and probably the Obama Administration were involved in the massive demos, that ignited the Arab Spring.  I think the end of the spring will be an Iranian, fanatically Muslim Egypt, with warlike aims abroad, and killing Christians at home.  A disaster.  I blame Obama and Hillary.

   One can say that lynching in the US were democratic manifestations also.

   In the end, I support various Western values, free speech, free this and that.  I also prefer a peaceful world.  And it may be better to support less popular regimes, like that of the Shah and Mubarek, than the fanatical hatred unleashed by the Arab Spring.

   What happened to the Hindus under Muslim rule in India?  How did the Hindus and Muslims fare under the British?

   In the end, I think D'Sousa is right.  Obama hates the West.  He wants it to be destroyed.  He sat in Rev. Wrights' church for 2 decades and heard sermons, "God Damn America."  Now he can hear protestors: "Allah damns America!" 

   Sorry, I wrote far more than I expected to.  Remember, when I partook in a sit-in in New Orleans - that was NOT a popular act.  If the people of NO or Louisiana could have voted on my punishment, I would still be in prison.  Democracy is not always right.

                 Hugh