‘Double-faced’ Europe and America

The successful presidential election held in Egypt last May 23 and 24 proves that countries in the throes of dictatorship can transit to democracy without intervention by the United States and Europe. In fact, the overthrow of despotic regimes in Egypt and Tunisia happened without the prodding and help of the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).

On the other hand, the US/Nato-backed regime changes in Libya and Iraq did not result in democracy, stability, peace and progress in those countries. Before, both countries were among the most socially and economically progressive nations in the Middle East, hosting thousands of overseas Filipino workers who, every month, remitted millions of dollars to their families here in the Philippines. But when the United States launched its massive “shock and awe” assault on Iraq in 2003, and led a six-month aerial bombing of Libya last year, these innocent OFWs were dislocated; some became casualties, and many were forced to come home penniless and, again, become burdens instead of assets to their families.

According to a recent New York Times report, some US and Arab intelligence officials have admitted that “CIA officers are operating secretly in southern Turkey,” helping anti-Syrian governments in the Middle East decide which “gangs” inside Syria will receive arms to fight the Syrian government.

There are OFWs in Syria, and their lives and jobs are in danger because of this foreign intervention. No less than US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have called for “regime change” in Syria. Under what international law, this has not been made clear.

On the other hand, the regimes overthrown by the civilian populations in Egypt and Tunisia have been backed by the United States and Europe. Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt as a corrupt dictator supported by the United States for 30 years. The deposed Tunisian president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, also ruled Tunisia for more than 20 years as a despot. He and his family were found guilty of corruption after their ouster from power.

On the other hand, the American- and Europe-backed reactionary and theological regimes of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, among the biggest oil producers, have managed to survive despite a total lack of democracy and civil rights, including religious freedom. These Arab nations keep women in virtual slavery. They are ruled by hereditary monarchical families that run their countries as feudal states and treat their people as virtual slaves without rights.

The Americans and Europeans should stop intervening in other countries, especially militarily, to assure peace, stability and progress in the world. It is time that their mask of hypocrisy was torn down as defenders of freedom, when in truth they are only defending their rapacity in grabbing and exploiting the resources of other countries, like oil, minerals, lands, seas and human labor.

—MANUEL F. ALMARIO,

spokesman, Movement for Truth in History

MOTH (Rizal’s Moth),

mfalmario@yahoo.com