A modern American tragicomedy...

[I AM MOBIUS]

The reckless plot to overthrow Africa's most absurd dictator

In December, a handful of middle-aged American immigrants attempted to topple the autocratic ruler of the Gambia. They had few weapons and an amateurish plan. What possessed them to risk everything in a mission that was doomed to fail?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/21/how-former-us-army-officer-launched-disastrous-coup-the-gambia

No, this isn't a thread bashing the US - though if the US spent 1/1,000,000th of the effort it spent ousting Saddam, getting rid of this guy and guys like him, the world would be a better place...?

More that it's a fascinatingly weird story of a sort of misguided, boy's own romanticism for democracy...

Also, an insight into a possible template for future coups of minor dictatorships: crowdfunding...?

[I AM MOBIUS]

Oh, I forgot, you ****wits can't read...

tl;dr version:

Some Gambians who became successful 'Living the American Dream' (including an Iraq War veteran and a Texan property developed), decided to stage a coup against a tin-pot dictator, but they were betrayed - probably by the US govt because this guy has helped them with their torture flights in the past...

You couldn't make it up.

[loinburger]

though if the US spent 1/1,000,000th of the effort it spent ousting Saddam, getting rid of this guy and guys like him, the world would be a better place...?

"Oh you Americans with your invading of random countries You should only invade the countries that I particularly disapprove of, this will surely make the world a better place"

[Elok]

I'm sure whatever weird cultural dynamics they have going on in the Gambia, we'd have handled them far more skilfully than we handled the weird cultural dynamics in Iraq.

[I AM MOBIUS]

"Oh you Americans with your invading of random countries You should only invade the countries that I particularly disapprove of, this will surely make the world a better place"

I'm not particularly in favour of that sort of intervention in general, but if the US is going to do it (Iraq, Grenada etc, not to mention all the democratically elected governments it's toppled over the years), then it might as well be consistent and take out the really easy to take out ones too...

[I AM MOBIUS]

I'm sure whatever weird cultural dynamics they have going on in the Gambia, we'd have handled them far more skilfully than we handled the weird cultural dynamics in Iraq.

Yes, by doing absolutely nothing. The US should do absolutely nothing more often.

[loinburger]

I'm sure whatever weird cultural dynamics they have going on in the Gambia, we'd have handled them far more skilfully than we handled the weird cultural dynamics in Iraq.

"So you guys have oil, right? How about rubber trees?"

[ZEE]

I am going to put a long-winded poast full of long words and strawman arguments in order to make myself seem moar intelligent and aware of the topic covered because it makes me feel better about my own insecurities and lack of self-confidence that usually hampers my ability to clarify what I am saying and to "fit in" with the other poasters on this site.

[loinburger]

I'm not particularly in favour of that sort of intervention in general, but if the US is going to do it (Iraq, Grenada etc, not to mention all the democratically elected governments it's toppled over the years), then it might as well be consistent and take out the really easy to take out ones too...

Every country is easy to invade until you actually get there

[giblets]

Invading Grenada went over pretty smoothly

[Dauphin]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...oup-the-gambia

No, this isn't a thread bashing the US - though if the US spent 1/1,000,000th of the effort it spent ousting Saddam, getting rid of this guy and guys like him, the world would be a better place...?

More that it's a fascinatingly weird story of a sort of misguided, boy's own romanticism for democracy...

Also, an insight into a possible template for future coups of minor dictatorships: crowdfunding...?

Wasn't Mark Thatcher a member of some consortium to topple a regime avdecade back? That also failed spectacularly.

[Dinner]

Yep.

[I AM MOBIUS]

Except these guys were part of a diaspora eager to free their own country; whereas Mark Thatcher et al were greedy white mercenaries wanting to topple an oil-rich state for their own personal gain...

But yes, it failed spectacularly in a hilariously funny way!

[jsorense]

Invading Grenada went over pretty smoothly

I'm not so sure that is true. Yes, it was a walk-over but the planning was bad and the execution pretty sad in some cases. IIRC. Was it really necessary?

[ZEE]

I am going to put a long-winded poast full of long words and strawman arguments in order to make myself seem moar intelligent and aware of the topic covered because it makes me feel better about my own insecurities and lack of self-confidence that usually hampers my ability to clarify what I am saying and to "fit in" with the other poasters on this site.

I am responding to this poast in a witty and snarky way in order to show off my debating skills as well as to get my name "out there" so other poasters will recognize me.