tp49.xml
Title
tp49.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-02-24
TomPaine Story: Story
"Toward A More Perfect Union","
Saddam Hussein. Osama bin Laden. Mullah Omar. To the average American these names constitute a virtual usual suspects lineup of Evil. But these reprehensible figures share another common link - as
former friends of the United States. Americans whose memories extend before the Gulf War recall that Hussein enjoyed significant American backing during Iraq's 8 year war against Iran. Americans whose
memory extends before September 11, 2001 will recall that the United States supported the muhajadeen of what would eventually become the Taliban during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Too often has the United
States allied itself with unsavory extremists in light of foreign policy crises. Other U.S.-supported embarrassments include the CIA-backed Suharto, Zaire's Mobuto, a repressive despot who looted his country,
and the famed Manuel Noriega a graduate of the School of the Americas. Some contend that one could not have foreseen the brutal oppression our support of these Cold Warriors would cause. On the contrary, these men constitute a clear pattern: all shared a complete disdain for human rights, freedom of expression, and democratic processes. A casual application of this easy litmus test indicates that the U.S. is once again
forsaking common sense by allying itself with Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf, the general who came to power in a bloodless coup that was resoundingly denounced in 1999. Now he is a primary ally in the
amorphous War on Terror, even as he recently granted himself extended rule and sweeping authority over parliament. The dissolution of democratic processes always precedes worsening of human rights. The U.S. has for too long operated on the principle ""the enemy of my enemy is my friend."" It is time to acknowledge that ""the enemy of my enemy will probably be my enemy tomorrow.""
Saddam Hussein. Osama bin Laden. Mullah Omar. To the average American these names constitute a virtual usual suspects lineup of Evil. But these reprehensible figures share another common link - as
former friends of the United States. Americans whose memories extend before the Gulf War recall that Hussein enjoyed significant American backing during Iraq's 8 year war against Iran. Americans whose
memory extends before September 11, 2001 will recall that the United States supported the muhajadeen of what would eventually become the Taliban during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Too often has the United
States allied itself with unsavory extremists in light of foreign policy crises. Other U.S.-supported embarrassments include the CIA-backed Suharto, Zaire's Mobuto, a repressive despot who looted his country,
and the famed Manuel Noriega a graduate of the School of the Americas. Some contend that one could not have foreseen the brutal oppression our support of these Cold Warriors would cause. On the contrary, these men constitute a clear pattern: all shared a complete disdain for human rights, freedom of expression, and democratic processes. A casual application of this easy litmus test indicates that the U.S. is once again
forsaking common sense by allying itself with Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf, the general who came to power in a bloodless coup that was resoundingly denounced in 1999. Now he is a primary ally in the
amorphous War on Terror, even as he recently granted himself extended rule and sweeping authority over parliament. The dissolution of democratic processes always precedes worsening of human rights. The U.S. has for too long operated on the principle ""the enemy of my enemy is my friend."" It is time to acknowledge that ""the enemy of my enemy will probably be my enemy tomorrow.""
Collection
Citation
“tp49.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 7, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/665.