A rchive Date
[ 14-04-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/strobel.html
So ... who's next?
U.S. has a wide choice of bad guys to topple
By MIKE STROBEL - Toronto Sun
April 14, 2003
Now that Saddam is dead, or at least dead in the water, let's look around.
You can bet George W. Bush is doing that, in the privacy of the Oval Office.
There are regimes to change, statues to topple and people to free in many dim corners of the world.
Freedom House, a non-partisan monitor, last week released its 2003 list of the world's worst regimes.
Freedom House does not advocate invasions and such. It just names the bad guys. It has special credibility in this regard. Its offices are a 15-minute walk from Ground Zero.
George W. scratched the Taliban off Freedom House's list.
New hit list
Same for Saddam and Iraq.
So perhaps it is time for a new hit list of places that could use some regime-changing.
1. North Korea. The bizarre little country that gives the whole world the willies. Nutty Kim Jong-il, son of "Dear Leader" Kim Il-sung, continues his dad's Stalinist ways.
More than 60% of North Korean kids are stunted by hunger, but the regime manages nuclear and missile programs. If George W. Bush wants to root out weapons of mass destruction (WMD), this is the place.
"When the regime falls, it's gonna be incredible what we find has been going on there," Freedom House research director Arch Puddington tells me down the line from Manhattan.
"But my gut feeling is they're good at rattling sabres, withdrawing from treaties, threatening nukes so they get food aid and other concessions, then behave for a few years."
Well, it worked on Bill Clinton. Will it work on George W.?
2. Syria. Another delightful father-son combo. Bashar Assad is not as bad as his late dad, Hafez, but he is no sweetie-pie. After a brief fling with tolerance, the Damascus Spring, repression is again in full flower. The Assads have a Saddam-esque "election" record, always "winning" by at least 99%. Syria sponsors terrorism. And the likelihood it now harbours Iraq's brass has George W. gritting his teeth.
3. Cuba. "Fidel Castro is still the communist dictator of the old school," says Puddington, 59. "He's not Idi Amin, but he has got rid of opposition by ... terrorizing them.
"He's a relic of a past we, thank God, have put behind us."
For the U.S., Castro is unfinished business.
4. Burma. The junta there, says Puddington, "is a rotten, horrible group, responsible for many killings." Top of any lists for repressive regimes, but, let's face it, of little threat or interest to the U.S. Mind you, sending the 7th Cavalry to help freedom goddess Aung San Suu Kyi has PR potential.
5. Libya. New chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Don't let that fool you. Moammar Gadhafi is working hard on his image. But his fist is still iron. And he can't talk America into taking him off the list of those who harbour terrorists. Perhaps memories of Lockerbie are too fresh. The Americans, even Bill Clinton, have attacked Libya from time to time. I bet they still have the maps.
Yep, Freedom House's 118-page report is chock full of bad guys and ruthless regimes. Sudan, Turkmenistan, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Somalia, Vietnam, Laos, Uzbekistan. Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe is an up-and-comer. China's in there. So is Saudi Arabia, though I doubt it needs to worry about the 7th Calvary marching in.
But Freedom House has missed some places you might expect would round out George W.'s regime-change list.
6. France. This would be a popular choice among Americans, who prize loyalty more than most people. Anything suspiciously French has been a boycott candidate since France snubbed the coalition. Even French's Mustard, which is British. And the 7th Calvary could skirt the Maginot Line and be in Paris quicker than they were in Baghdad.
7. Japan. Nice people, peaceful and free. But their baseball players are rapidly infiltrating America's pastime.
8. Germany. Another loyalty problem. And they're bidding against New York City for the 2012 Games.
9. Russia. Just for old times. Or force of habit. America has long had a secret desire to see the 7th Cavalry welcomed to Moscow by adoring Russian throngs.
10. Canada. A newcomer. Now a virtual one-party state, though voters go through the motions every four years or so. Leader unchallenged for a decade and quick to clamp down on dissent, especially in his ruling party.
Uppity
Once throttled a protester, though the guy deserved it. Recently taunted Bush about regime-changing. "Who is next? Give me the list," he said. Oh, and Canada's golfers are getting uppity. Border's undefended. Clear sailing for the 7th Calvary.
So, people of freedom, there you have it. Were I leader of one of those countries, I would sleep with one eye open.
Mike Strobel can be reached at 416-947-2265 or by e-mail at mike.strobel@tor.sunpub.com. Letters to the editor should be sent to editor@sunpub.com
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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