Like an addict, the United States of America under jingoistic president George Bush was too hooked on cheap oil and gas in middle-east. Had Kuwait grown apples like we have in Kashmir, late Sadam Hussain's blitzkrieg against kingdom would not have invited the wrath of the Washington. The analogy fits  Sadam. His dictatorial regime had to be snuffed out not on reasons Bush administration listed out to the world. That, for example, Iraq piled up weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms {the allegation which United Nations investigation found baseless, nonetheless Iraq, was attacked}. If WMD was the issue, Israel qualified for more scrutiny and attack. If tyranny was to be exiled from region then there were several  other tyrannies to be 'democratized'. But the world has to stop looking through its own eyes and look through US tainted spectacles. Then even ghoulish regimes earn recognition.
      Exactly same behaviour was replicated by the West in Libya. The NATO was not driven by any  moral impulses to save the Libyan people from the megalomanic dictator Muamar Gaddafi. It was again cheap superior quality oil which titillated bands of rich nations armed with devastating military machine to pound on a weak nation. It is immaterial whether NATO did not launch a ground attack and didn't position its troops on Libyan soil, incapacitating Gaddafi through aerial bombing, in the name of implementing the UN 'no-fly zone'  resolution, was a decisive factor that culminated in the ouster and death of maverick Libyan dictator.
      In Behrain too the Shia Majority thronged to streets and protested against autocratic  Sheikhdom of a sunni minority. But far from showing solidarity to people killed, on streets for their genuine demands, a frustrated Sheikhdom was out to quell the rebellion. Saudi regime thought of sending its troops to fulfill its mission. No sanctions were put on the Behrain rulers. Remember America is having its largest naval fleet on Behrain. Syrian Ulvi dynastic regime  of  Basahrul Asad outsmarted Gaddafi in brutal suppression of people. The genocide the brutal dictator carried out mercilessly on Sunni majority did not attract "civilized" West to do a Libya on Syria. There are no oil wells to grab attention of the US and West to 'come to the rescue of innocent people'.
      The centre for  Public Integrity in Washington found that nine out of thirty members of the Defence Policy Board of the US government were connected to companies that were awarded defence contracts for $ 76 billion between 2001 and 2002. George Shultz, the former US secretary of state was also a member on the Board of Directors of the Bechtel Group which signed $ 680 million contract for reconstruction in Iraq.
      Surely it was corporate interests which drew West to Libya. Like Bechtel Group, several other corporate groups surely would have their representation in the French, British and Italian administration. It is economic colonialism that the West has inflicted through military aggression.
      But law of unintended consequences throws its own miracles. US wanted exit of Sadam, but never in its wildest dreams would have thought of being a causative factor of extending  what it says shiate crescent.  Libya too would throw surprises. The change might not be a staple one for the actors. Rid of Gaddafi, and put on democratic rails, the interests of the people and country  would hold pre-eminence. That is what hegemonic powers never want. They want only their coffers to be filled. By any means.      
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Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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