Originally posted by -dead-
Although come to that the last government wasn't deposed by "the world" and "the world" did not agree that it was a real threat to "the world". Another gedankenexperiment for you: Iraqis elect a secular, socialist reformist government that nationalizes the oil fields, kicks out US businesses, welcomes French contractors and accepts Euros instead of dollars for oil. The Euros for oil thing would pose an enormous threat to the US dollar - which is no longer backed by gold - and ultimately could lead to the US economy crashing and burning. Again would the US get rid of that government or would they preserve Iraqi freedom over their own economic comfort? I'm betting the US would change the government.
I'm not arguing that the US will depose any government - only the ones they really don't like. You seem to be admitting much the same yourself.
As to the protests - bad PR to let them hold it, much worse to stop them - starts looking like you don't care a hoot about their freedom at all - which would lead everyone to suspect it might be an oil thing [Best Basil Fawlty voice] "Whatever you do don't mention the oil. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it." [/Best Basil Fawlty voice]
I'm not predicting the US will remove the Iraqi government in a few months - I'm pointing out that the US holds a military veto over the Iraqi people's choice of government in any upcoming election. And therefore true democracy is impossible in Iraq. Ultimately, the US position (as demonstrated by Operation Iraqi Freedom) is this: the US knows what's best for the Iraqi people - and the Iraqi people will have to comply with what the US feels is best for them or face regime change and its attendant bombings, invasions, military coups, assassinations or whatever.
The first thing wont happend. I dont know why you and miko bring up the ridiculous idea that people, especially oil producers, will stop accepting dollars thereby cutting themselves off from the worlds largest oil market. Remember another one of the things that makes amreeka so evil is our disproportionate use of energy resouces like oil compared to our population. BTW you cant use the gold standard argument and the arab oil embargo argument at the same time, the gold standard folks argue that the oil shortage was caused by dollar not being valued against gold and not by any action of the arabs. But go ahead and belive that this will happend if it makes you feel better. I think that any iraqi oil production for the next few years will be nationanalized and thats exactly what the USA is intending to do, the proceeds from oil sales will be used to stabilize and rebuild iraq, they will be used for the benift of the iraqi people. But of course you think we will somehow magically "steal" the oil dont ya? So yes it most likely will be nationalized. I am sure any post saddam government will warmly welcome french russian and german companies as those countries lead the way for their liberation and stopping husseins beloved regime.
Yes the old regime was deposed by the world, a coalition of some 50 countries supported ur efforts. More european countries suported our efforts than did not. The countries who opposed us were mainly those with enormouus self interest in seeing saddam hussein stay in power. The UN, as an entity on to itself, had a vested interest in keeping the saddam govt in place because the UN's handling of the oil for food program netted them hundereds of millions in profits. Did every country agree, of course not. But you never have everyone agree do you?
What I was sayoing was that if any iraqi govt grew over time to pose a threat to world security like saddams the usa as a world power would have to deal with nit in some way. Now of course all of you would then say, you evil USA cant confront them because you made the election happend that elected them or something like that...
If you think we did not stop the protests because of bad PR how bad a PR would we get if we anulled an election? You cant have it both ways. And I think you are wrong anyway, the protests were outstanding PR for the USA, remember we were there in part to liberate the Iraqi people - those thousands of Iraqi demonstrators seemed pretty damn liberated to me. But of course you only focus on the negatives because of your prejudice towards the USA.
"the US knows what's best for the Iraqi people - and the Iraqi people will have to comply with what the US feels is best for them or face regime change and its attendant bombings, invasions, military coups, assassinations or whatever."
Is that how the USA acted in rebulding Japan and Germany?
