Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site teddy.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!teddy!lkk From: lkk@teddy.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Thoughts on America Bashing Message-ID: <1040@teddy.UUCP> Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 11:39:35 EDT Article-I.D.: teddy.1040 Posted: Mon Jul 29 11:39:35 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 23:27:32 EDT References: <416@iham1.UUCP> <1056@ames.UUCP> <146@batman.UUCP> Reply-To: lkk@teddy.UUCP (Larry K. Kolodney) Distribution: net Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass. Lines: 34 In article <146@batman.UUCP> gene@batman.UUCP (Gene Mutschler) writes: >> But our treatment of the peoples of >> other lands is all too often exploitative and self-serving. > >You have *recent* examples, of course. > >A lot of those people would gladly trade that "exploitation" for that of >their current "President For Life". The names Nyerere (sp?), Obote (and >before him the ever-popular Idi Amin), Mengistu (who once settled an >argument at a cabinet meeting by shooting his antagonist between the eyes), >Khadaffi, Khomeini(ask a Bahai, if there are any left), Karmal, Castro, >and Pol Pot spring to mind. Its funny the crew that you mentioned. They all came to power (with the exception of Karmal), as part of popular uprisings against oppressive U.S. supported govts. Maybe there's a lesson there? If we don't want the likes of Khadaffi and Khomeini, perhaps we might be more amenable to promoting popular empowerment in those countries, BEFORE IT IS TAKEN BY FORCE. A case in point. When the racist regime in S. Africa finally falls, how do you expect the new leaders to feel about the U.S. (who with Britain blocked manditory sanctions in the Security Council last week). And if the U.S. and allies support the White Regime 'till the bitter end, what kind of leaders do you think will be in charge afterwards? BITTER ones! and do you think they'll give a damn about western style democracy? -- Sport Death, Larry Kolodney (USENET) ...decvax!genrad!teddy!lkk (INTERNET) lkk@mit-mc.arpa