Asylum Seekers

[GuruJane]

Not really the point SK. Sure, removing Saddam is a good thing, but it's dependent on what replaces it.

The removal of the Shah of Iran was a "good thing" until he was replaced by a theocrat who murdered all his former secular allies in the revolution.

The removal of the Soviets from Afghanistan was a "good thing" until the power vacuum was filled by the Taliban.

I wouldn't have supported the liberation of Iraq if I didn't believe the US would create a democracy. That's what makes it "liberation".

Yes, removing Saddam was good, but creating a democracy, however embattled, is what has brought the refugees home and stopped those seeking asylum.

Sums it all up guys.

 

[OldLion]

The removal of the Shah of Iran was a "good thing" until he was replaced by a theocrat who murdered all his former secular allies in the revolution.

I understand where you're coming from - never underestimate perversity and irony in the affairs of mankind - but I don't agree with this statement. My view is that the misinterpretation by the West of the Iranian revolution lead to the current Gulf situation. The dream was that the Shah would be, with the Saudis, a bastion for western interests in such a critical region for the western economies. Therefore all 'democratic' impulses were dismissed and repressed, forcing the people to a more radical position. The number of 'moderates' who were taken out by that regime almost guaranteed a radical response. Extreme times call for extreme measures. I was in the region when this was going on and the bravery of the masses - taking on tanks and vicious police - was extraordinary.. something that Australians could never comprehend. When the army decided that enough was enough and joined with them, the excitement was amazing and that precious commodity hope was everywhere. Then you had the hostage thing - the evidence of collusion with the Shah was denied - that coincided with military adventurism, a US Presidential election ( all that flag waving ) which upped the anti and then sooling Saddam onto them for a good old WW1 bloodbath for 8 years. And you wonder why the Iranians got a little paranoid and that ANY moderate voices were drowned out ?

The other issue here is the statements made that refugees are returning en masse from camps in Pakistan to Afghanistan etc now that their land has been liberated. The appoinment of that psycho Dostrum as head of the army is interesting - comes under the category of "be careful what you wish for ...' but , again in the irony basket, the other area where refugees have created all sorts of issues in Palestine. I'm sure Lebanon, Jordan etc would be happy to let them return .. to what ! The Palestinian refugee issue has been a scandal for 50 years because it's just too inconvenient. Bit like East Timor was for 25 years.