Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Godless Dave · 07-23-2003, 05:01 AM

Bushco and many of their supporters now claim the reason for invading Iraq was to get rid of a brutal dictator who murdered his own people and threatened regional stability, and not weapons of mass destruction as previously claimed. If that's the case, why aren't we invading Liberia? Charles Taylor is a brutal dictator who has murdered and tortured many Liberians. What's the difference?

Gurdur · 07-23-2003, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Dave
....
If that's the case, why aren't we invading Liberia?

Too dangerous and expensive. Literally.
Liberia is an entirely different of fish than Iraq. It's more like Kosovo cubed.
There are several different guerilla groups, and a lot of very bushy undergrowth (with bloody few roads capable of carying Abrams tanks in the wet season); and the borders are very porous, and the guerillas rather footloose.

Personally I would love a sensible intervention in Liberia; most people actually there would be all for it; yet the only sensible intervention would be country-wide intervention (not just Monrovia) followed by massive rebuilding of national infrastructure.
Guess what's not going to happen ?

Quote:

Charles Taylor is a brutal dictator who has murdered and tortured many Liberians. What's the difference?

AFAIK, he never gave the big finger to the Bushes personally.

paul30 · 07-23-2003, 05:24 AM

No oil.

Godless Dave · 07-23-2003, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by paul30
No oil.

But they do have diamonds, which have industrial uses in addition to jewelry.

contracycle · 07-23-2003, 07:01 AM

Granted, but they are not a strategic commodity the way oil is. Imperial America can never afford to have its military power undercut by oil shortages.

Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ · 07-23-2003, 09:23 AM

So they have diamonds. Big fucking deal.
First of all, the diamond trade is monopolized by the DeBeers family, which controls the release of diamonds to a huge extent. We have direct access to those diamonds, prices will not go down, because fewer diamonds will be released.
Secondly, the price of diamonds will go up. How do you think the diamonds are mined now? Very cheaply by people who don't want to be doing it. Guess what will stop when we invade and take it over? Prices will go up.
Thirldy, they're not white and don't have a necessary commidity to our lifestyle.

That is diamonds mean little and Bush won't do anything other than a token effort.

RoddyM · 07-23-2003, 09:56 AM

Yeah, what is it with this "own people" stuff? Brutal dictators don't kill their own people. Or if they do they disown them first.

Didn't English and Americans impose national borders onto the region? I think people in that part of the world identify more with cities, tribes and religion than they do with nationalism.

07-23-2003, 05:01 AM	#1
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	Brutal dictators who murder their own people Bushco and many of their supporters now claim the reason for invading Iraq was to get rid of a brutal dictator who murdered his own people and threatened regional stability, and not weapons of mass destruction as previously claimed. If that's the case, why aren't we invading Liberia? Charles Taylor is a brutal dictator who has murdered and tortured many Liberians. What's the difference?

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07-23-2003, 05:24 AM	#3
paul30 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 870	No oil.

07-23-2003, 07:01 AM	#5
contracycle Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,425	Granted, but they are not a strategic commodity the way oil is. Imperial America can never afford to have its military power undercut by oil shortages.

07-23-2003, 09:23 AM	#6
Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Heaven Posts: 6,980	So they have diamonds. Big fucking deal. First of all, the diamond trade is monopolized by the DeBeers family, which controls the release of diamonds to a huge extent. We have direct access to those diamonds, prices will not go down, because fewer diamonds will be released. Secondly, the price of diamonds will go up. How do you think the diamonds are mined now? Very cheaply by people who don't want to be doing it. Guess what will stop when we invade and take it over? Prices will go up. Thirldy, they're not white and don't have a necessary commidity to our lifestyle. That is diamonds mean little and Bush won't do anything other than a token effort.

07-23-2003, 09:56 AM	#7
RoddyM Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 183	Yeah, what is it with this "own people" stuff? Brutal dictators don't kill their own people. Or if they do they disown them first. Didn't English and Americans impose national borders onto the region? I think people in that part of the world identify more with cities, tribes and religion than they do with nationalism.

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