----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin van Spaandonk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Vo]: OFF TOPIC How to deal with terrorism
I think Robin misses a point here: <snip>
IOW the US administration has propped up corrupt puppet governments that ensured an ongoing flow of cheap oil.
A policy that the US has imperfectly followed is to deal with the government of a nation and not to intefere with its internal affairs. [Note I said imperfectly, of the US has covertly meddled in the affairs of other nations, but not to the extent that Russia did.] This often leaves us in the position of 'propping up corrupt governments' to get oil, minerals, or banannas [as in 'bananna republics'] What would Robin have us do, foment revolution, establish representative government and forced redistribution of wealth? I think we tried that in Iraq, and it isn't going well for various reasons.
Where the wealth of a country comes from a valuable, concentrated resource like oil, copper, or banannas it is possible for a kelptocracy to form as it takes few people to control the operation and support a series of thugs in power, wo do not use the welath for the betterment of all the people. And all the oil nations are not alike, someof the Emirates are investing their welath in the whole populace.
The US often winds up supporting the 'bad guys' as seen from the perspective of Austrailia and other nations. Just remember that the finger of greed points in all directions.
Mike Carrell
