Rumsfeld Warns Syria

[Az]

that's not true for quite a large part of the region, and in some parts, the american/soviet propped leaders were quite better than the alternative: see Iran.

[MRT144]

the shah was better? in what ways

[Az]

Ok, actually, I was mistaken, the shah was worse than the government BEFORE him, so, actually the US did **** THAT up.

BUT... The Shah is better than what there is there now. If only for the way his regime treated women. and people, generally speaking.

[MRT144]

saddam seems to treat the women in his country better than in iran... whodathunkit

[Az]

If saddam didn't go genocidal on his population, I would consider him to be one of the better people in the region.( Though in this region, it's not much of a challenge )

[MRT144]

azazel, you seem like a good level-headed person...move to europe or at least america while you still can.

[Az]

At least I don't live in San Francisco.

Seriously, I love it here, I love the place, I love the people, and I feel a part of this country. Why the heck should I leave?

[MRT144]

because i want you to live and while you may love where you live you have a better chance of surviving somewhere else...if this war expands

[Dinner]

Originally posted by MRT144
their corrupt thuggish leaders were put there by americans

BUZZ! Sorry wrong anwser...

[MRT144]

so the shah wasnt put there...really...

[Az]

Not all of them, or even most of them were set up by the US. Hafez the 1st, "President" of Syria, Egypt's Nasser, they both rose by their own powers. I don't know about the rest.

[MRT144]

so why is america going after problems it didnt create

[Az]

because it wants to spread peace justice and democracy in the world?

[Dinner]

The Shah was returned to power but he's been gone for darn near 25 years. To continue to blame the region's self made problems on the U.S. for restoring the Shah to power a third of a century ago is total B.S..

Without exception the Arab states (and Iran since we're speaking about them too) are autocratic & neo-totalitarian states which created there own messes. Their brutush leaders have repressed their own people, their high tarrifs & higher taxes have killed privite enterprise, and their lack of a uniform legal system is what has made these countries the failures that they are. The blame for this rests soully upon their own laps not upon the west.

[Az]

ahh, yes IT WAS THE LACK OF FREE TRADE THAT MAKE THEM ****ED UP.