Iraq and Afghanistan

Ok, after running errands Tuesday and getting the newspapers, I sat down with lunch and read. And several items in the news crossed my mind to sit down later, here, and write about them. And remember it's just my opinion and perspective on the news. And that is?

Well, for one, President Obama isn't any different than any past President, even the Ole' George W. himself, the worst in recent history (Nixon is debateable because he did have some accomplishment to offset his flaws and failings). And that is he would rather have a stable government in a foreign country, especially one who's an ally or we're occupying, than a democratic or even a decent one.

The examples are Iraq and Afghanistan. Both governments are corrupt, non-democratic (although Iraq's was done under the guise of elections), and highly discriminating. Iraq against minorities of any type, kind or description. They're imposing Islamic law and we're just letting it happen.

And worse Afghanistan is more corrupt, less effective or productive, and discriminates against women, really big time. And Obama just stands there and says we want stability. Apparently at any human price. The government suppresses and even oppresses women and their rights under Islamic law. So what did exactly we change there?

Freedom, democracy, rule of law? What?

So President Obama back slides to say we're not there to install a government but to fight Al Qaeda and the Taliban, except they're part of the government from the local war lords to the national one under President Hamid Karzai. He keeps our money, doles it to friends and allies, and then does what he wants. He promises democracy but then approves Islamic law against women.

That's right, the war lords and the Taliban, the very people we attacked after 9/11 for their support of Al Qaeda, are part of Karzai's government. The very people we hated for their support of the acts by Al Qaeda against the people of many nations in the World Trade Center. The very people we condemned their imposition of Islamic law and for their human rights abuses, especially against women.

And we stand there side-by-side with President Karzai like it never happened, and then hand him more money to do more of the same.

And there already is enough written about the support we've given the government and especially the military Pakistan while neglecting the economy and people. All because they help us fight Al Qaeda and the Taliban in the northwest terrorities. It doesn't matter how corrupt they are too and their connections to both those groups for their own political purposes.

We just want stability. Well, the former Soviet Union had that along with the Eastern Bloc nations they controlled through military oppression. And our history isn't much better. Chile had that under General Pinochet with our support to overthrow the elected leader. And so on through the list of "stable" nations we've installed and supported, dismissing or overlooking their discrimination and human rights abuses to their own people.

So much for selling America abroad. Our tax dollars wasted on corruption, fraud, abuse and fear, all in the name of American diplomacy and international relations. You can put all the shine and spin on it you want, the truth and reality is still there. All you have to do is look and read the news.

We don't want a free and independent nation there, we want an ally and we don't care how they govern to do that. As long as they'll pretend to be our friend we'll write the checks. For the arms, intelligence, technology, whatever, to discriminate, suppress, oppress and abuse their own people.

That's America as seen from abroad. We just don't like to see and know we don't wear the white hat, but the darkest black one.