May 3, 2005
Balaji Reddy
India Daily
Soviet Union learnt its lesson in Afghanistan. America had it in Vietnam. All big powers in the history have gone down in trying to influence their “attitude” and “styles” to other countries either militarily or politically.
Even in India, the Bangladesh war of 1971 did not work well. After thirty-six years, Bangladesh is a bigger nuisance than even Pakistan. Indian Army suffered unnecessarily trying to help Sri Lanka under Rajiv Gandhi.
What is happening in Iraq is just a reminder of that. According to historical trends, it is like stretching a rubber band. Elastic properties will finally take it back to what it was before. As long as US forces are in Iraq, this quagmire of rebellion and fighting the coalition forces will continue. After Americans leave, and they will given the fact money, life and material are not free in America, things will snap back. The Iraqi expatriates will run for cover and some local power will come into force. We can only hope that Iraqis will not allow someone like Taliban come into power.
In recent days, the “Velvet Revolution” has changed regimes in countries like Georgia, Ukraine and others. Private money from American Billionaires have funded the opposition in influencing local elections.
Now in every country all opposition splinter groups expect America to stand for them. This is dangerous for America and others. Every country have a Government and opposition. Sometimes that is democratic, sometime quasi-democratic and sometime totally chaotic or dictatorial as was the case of Saddam Hussein. But every country should be allowed to freely exercise the real will of their own citizens.
Take for example: Approximately 100 demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on May 3 to protest the Uzbek government. Some demanded President Islam Karimov's resignation. Organizers said they decided to protest outside the U.S. Embassy in an effort to attract U.S. State Department and international attention. There were reports of initial scuffles between police and some protesters, most of whom were women and children. Embassy security personnel reportedly kept their distance from the demonstration.
Interestingly, U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin might discuss the issue of democracy in Russia when the two meet in Moscow on the sidelines of the May 9 ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, Interfax news agency reported May 3, citing an unnamed source in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The source said Bush will raise the same issues that were discussed during the Russia-U.S. summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, in February. Bush also plans to meet with other public figures in Moscow as time permits. Should America now change regime in Uzbekistan? Well, the Bush Administration must decide that. America is great country. Its success is not in occupying Iraq, Afghanistan with supervised democracies or political influences in Georgia, Ukraine and elsewhere. The real success of America was from “spread of freedom” through culture, compassion and giving. Hollywood for example is much more powerful than American Military in influencing other cultures and countries.
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