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No Soup for You!

This past week President George Bush stated that those countries that took no part in the liberation of the Iraqi people would find themselves excluded from bidding on the rebuilding of the Iraqi country and economy.

I’ve said it since the first rumors of an Iraqi liberation were denounced by cowards. My only comfort is that I am not the only one to say it. But here we are, months after the successful operations in Iraq conducted by the United States -- and a few close allies, thanks, mates -- that gave the Iraqi people their freedom from a despot, facing the inevitable.

When the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, spoke before the United Nations of behalf of the United States and the President, several asses got very twitchy in their seats.

Saddam Hussein is, scratch that – was – a dictator. He grew fat and rich while he murdered and suppressed the rights of his people. The United Nations, after the conclusion of a successful military campaign for the liberation of Kuwait, placed sanctions against Saddam and his regime. He defied those sanctions. New sanctions were enacted. They were ignored. The UN spoke. Saddam did not listen. The UN demanded under threat of action. Saddam laughed at them. The US decided to call Saddam’s bluff. The UN and, I’m sad to say, a number of American people, balked.

The United Nations should just change their color from light blue to hot pink. Their motto ought to be “Walk softly and carry no stick,” or maybe even “Walk softly and carry a limp prick”. UN Peacekeepers might as well carry batons for all the Rules of Engagement they are saddled with. Well, at least they got the berets right. The simple fact of the matter is this body has lost all relevance. The world is a changing place, and unfortunately the UN stays the same. ‘Tradition’ is not a saving grace. Changes need to be made – now. Got a pen handy? Write this down – Legislation without the will to enforce it equals dick. The League of Nations suffered from a similar case of the scudders. The result led to the Second World War. With the threat of terrorism growing every day, and terrorist literally knocking on our skyscrapers, are we really prepared to fail? Well, France, Germany and Russia are. Why would that be..?

France has no political or military significance. They exist as a permanent voting member of the UN simply because we feel bad for them. As a military power, they aren’t one. If faced with a military threat, France would roll over faster than a drunken date on prom night. Politically they are a non-entity as well. The sad thing is, they know it, too. That is why they have no fear of any terrorist attack. Even the terrorists know – What’s the point?

Germany is still wrestling with the duality of its former halves having joined forces. What was once a honeymoon has turned into the guests that won’t leave. The former East Germans have discovered that they are now expected to support themselves rather than rely on the State to provide. On top of this, Germany has struggled with internal terror for years. They’ve got their hands full. Besides, without nations like a Hussein-run Iraq, whom are they going to sell arms too?

Russia? Russia is the new Vegas. Mob kingpins, big rollers, secret government insiders, parliament brawls, and political corruption – these guys got their hands full. Mostly with vodka. It’s so bad there that many of the people are nostalgic for communism. But Russia doesn’t care about Iraq. Why? Ever see a brochure for vacations in Checnya? Seen what’s playing lately at the Russian Theater? It’s a gas! And you think Amtrak is bad? In Russia the trains are late because they blew up. No, these guys have enough issues at home. On top of that, Russia isn’t dependent on Iraqi oil. Beneath former states like Turkmenistan they are sitting on top of one of the richest oil fields on the globe. And with China’s ever-growing dependency on foreign oil, they’ve got all the export oil dollars they will ever need. And if the logistics for drilling their own oil never fully actualize, they can import from Iran, with whom they’ve established ties (by selling little-bitty weapons, like Kilo class diesel subs); an Iran the U.S. has yet to see a way to forgive for the hostages the Ayatollah grabbed. No, Russia is concerned with our actions not in Iraq, but in Afghanistan. Sorry to say it, but one of Russia’s main exports is illegal. It’s called heroin. Russian heroin flows into this country like a river, most from the Russian mob, some from the Colombians, with whom they trade their heroin for Colombian cocaine. And what is Heroin made from? Opium poppies. Guess what Afghanistan’s major export is and where it goes. Do you think Russia wants to see the end of tribal rule and discord in Afghanistan? Think they want a heavy US presence there?

And then there are some Americans, the corporate big wigs, who want no action taken in the region. This isn’t surprising since the only things they value are their corporate profit margins and stock value. It’s the type of moral gutter-balling that allows them to lobby for WTO entry for China, while Chinese civil rights are crushed beneath the treads of tanks. Just so a pair of sneakers can be made for $.87 and sold for $187. Damn, and they don’t even get a pair of those fancy running shoes for trying to escape places like Tiananmen Square.

Nope. As usual, the US will go at it primarily alone. Like always, the British and Australians are there to help. To that effect, I’d like to extend my thanks. Outside of that, it’s our boys and girls who will bleed for that region’s freedom and safety. And as that security rolls around, who starts to jockey around for position? You got it – France, Germany, Russia, and the Corporations. They want no part of the work and yet are so willing to move in when oil is a nickel a barrel and the economy is ripe for reconstruction. They want a piece of the pie, folks, and they don’t want to pay for it. Kudos to the President for giving them the political middle finger. It mirrors the actual one I’m extending.

Michael Farmer / TheTanker.Com E-Mail readermail@TheTanker.Com

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