Where Do We Meddle Next?

[MountainLaurel]

I'm pretty stunned to see the MSM saying this out loud, admitting that the U.S. government has long been fucking with other countries' governments to further its own interests.

So, after more than a half-century of active meddling -- protecting our interests, promoting our values, encouraging democracy, fighting terrorism, seeking stability, defending human rights, pushing peace -- it's come to this. In Iraq we find ourselves unwilling regents of a society splitting into a gangland of warring militias and death squads, with our side (labeled "the government") outperforming the other side (labeled "the terrorists") in both the quantity and gruesome quality of its daily atrocities. In Iran, an irrational government that hates us with special passion is closer to getting the bomb than Iraq -- the country we went to war with to keep from getting the bomb -- ever was.

And in Afghanistan -- site of the Iraq war prequel that actually followed the script (invade, topple brutal regime, wipe out terrorists, establish democracy, accept grateful thanks, get out) -- the good guys we put in power came close a couple of weeks ago to executing a man for the crime of converting to Christianity. Meanwhile, the bad guys (the Taliban and al-Qaeda) keep a low news profile by concentrating on killing children and other Afghan civilians rather than too many American soldiers.

When the United States should use its military strength to achieve worthy goals abroad is an important question. But based on this record, it seems a bit theoretical. A more pressing question is: Can't anyone here play this game?

Half a century ago, Iran was very close to a real democracy. It had an elected legislature, called the majlis, and it had a repressive monarch, called the shah, and power veered uncertainly between them. In 1951, over the shah's objections, the majlis voted in a man named Mohammad Mosaddeq as prime minister. His big issue was nationalizing the oil companies.

But in 1952 the United States had an election for president, and the winner (Dwight Eisenhower) got more votes than anyone in Iran. That must explain why in 1953, in the spirit of democracy, the CIA instigated a riot and then staged a coup. Mosaddeq was arrested, the majlis was ultimately dissolved and the shah ran things his way, which involved torture and death for political opponents, caviar and champagne for an international cast of hangers-on, and no more crazy talk about nationalizing the oil companies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/13/AR2006041301664.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I he could, I am sure Chucklepants would just LOVE to go into Venezuela.

[Sinti]

3. But, an assassination and right wing takeover would be so much cleaner. :P

[Briar]

2. Half a century?

It's been going on for much longer than that!

And I see no reason to hope it might stop. That assinine show "Commander in Chief" shows that its target audience, at the very least, still thinks that the US should be intervening in other countries as and when it thinks fit. Never mind weak-minded liberal (or worse!) obstacles like International Law or the United Nations - in their opinion the US should saddle up and intervene in the cause of righteousness at the drop of a white cowboy hat, and they will follow any leader prepared to lead them on such a crusade.

This is, of course, the impulse Bush appeals to. And despite the catastrophic consequences of his foreign adventures, there is little sign that the US has learned its lesson, if its pop culture is anything to go by.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Oh, you're absolutely right

But perhaps he was writing for the average American who are barely aware of their local government, let alone geopolitics.

[bemildred]

5. Nice to see WaPo print something like this, wishy-washy though it is.

The dumb guy finally gets a clue.

[MountainLaurel]

6. Isn't Kinsley a repuke, too?

Which makes this all the more stunning.

[cliss]

7. I'd say this is a damn honest assessment

of what's going on. In fact, I agree with everything written.

Notice: "But in 1952, the US had an election and the winner got more votes than anyone in Iran. That must explain why in 1953, IN THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY...."

This is a clear denunciation of US Imperial Aggression. It doesn't glorify what we did.

It's all cynical. If you look closely, it paints the US in a very bad light.