In Latvia yesterday W said, regarding our role in the Yalta agreement in 1945:
"We will not repeat the mistakes of other generations -- appeasing or excusing tyranny, and sacrificing freedom in the vain pursuit of stability. We have learned our lesson. No one's liberty is expendable. In the long run, our security, and true stability, depend on the freedom of others."
Except the Sudanese and a bunch of other people whose governments serve our interests. In that case our security lies with doing business with the likes of the Sudanese Mukabarat, who are behind the killing and dislocation of tens of thousands of civilians in Darfur.
Condi Rice had said earlier that "In the Middle East President Bush has broken with six decades of excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the hope of purchasing stability at the price of liberty. The stakes could not be higher. As long as the broader Middle East remains a region of tyranny and despair and anger, it will produce extremists and movements that threaten the safety of America and our friends."
So, let me get this straight; we don't care if bringing "freedom" to the Middle East involves more carnage like what's going on in Iraq right now, because the lesson of Yalta is stability is a bad thing. (What was Roosevelt supposed to do anyway? Move on to Moscow from Berlin?)
So watch out Egypt, you're next. As Ricahrd Perle said, "Mubarak is no great shakes." He could go, too. Since we're all about the untidiness of democracy these days...
Posted by bushmeister0
at 12:10 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 8 May 2005 8:08 PM EDT