Imperial bullies always switch sides

[eridani]

Just remember that we have never been at war with Eurasia. We have always been at war with Eastasia.

http://www.alternet.org/world/140248/why_is_the_u.s._continuing_to_tell_the_lebanese_how_to_vote/?page=entire

One of the most bizarre switches in U.S. allegiances involves former Lebanese Army General Michel Aoun, a Maronite, and his Free Patriotic Movement, the most popular Christian-led political group in the country. As an ally to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 1990, the United States gave a green light to the Syrians to have Aoun overthrown as interim Lebanese prime minister in a violent coup. Not long afterward, however, the United States then switched sides to support Aoun and oppose the Syrians and their supporters. As recently as 2003, Aoun was feted by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies – a neo-conservative group with close ties with the Bush administration, which includes among its leaders Newt Gingrich, James Woolsey, Jack Kemp, and Richard Perle, as well as Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Joseph Lieberman. The group declared him a champion of freedom and democracy. Aoun won similar praise from both Republican and Democratic members of Congress when he testified that year before the House International Relations Committee.

Soon after his return to Lebanon from exile, however, Aoun became one of the most outspoken opponents of the U.S.-backed political leaders and parties which dominate the current Lebanese government and he and his movement are now allied with Hezbollah in the March 8th Alliance. Not surprisingly, he is now considered once again to be one of the bad guys.

If history has proven anything, the United States has little to gain and much to potentially lose in taking sides in Lebanon. It would behoove President Barack Obama to keep hawks like Clinton and Biden on a short leash and allow the Lebanese people to determine their own destiny.

[Kurska]

1. Realpoltik at it's best (Or is that worst?)

[billyoc]

2. Oh, yeah, I remember this movie.

Sad ending.

[Selatius]

3. In the modern world, we don't invade and colonize nations. We take sides instead to get what we want

It's a lot easier to let them blow each other up and then pillage the place while everybody is distracted, but people don't forget. The ones you fuck over find a way of coming back at you. Hell, one of them could easily decide to blow up your people.