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Fifteen of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi's citizens and yet there was no talk of attacking Saudi Arabia. Saudi money goes to support terrorism around the region and yet no talk of attacking Saudia Arabia. The country is not even close to a democracy and yet, despite talk of trying to bolster the growth of democracy in the region, there is no talk of attacking Saudia Arabia.
Iran, a democracy (perhaps in name only), with a relatively free-speaking press, who had no citizens involved in 9/11 and with no readily apparent ties to Al Qaeda is not only in the Axis of Evil but slated for invasion.
What it looks like to me is that the US would rather support despots who keep the oil flowing than burgeoning democracies.
The fact is democracies are messier than despots. They don't always go in the direction you want them to. BUT with increased trade and increased diplomacy, investment in education that counters what the mullas spout. There is a more realistic chance of changing the course of the region.
The real thing Bush should have been spending trillions in treasure on was breaking Americas and the Middle East's dependency on oil. So long as the Fundamentalists in Iran have oil money to pay off their cronies and smooth over the inefficiencies of their rule, they will hold onto power.
The same is to be said of places like Libya and Saudi Arabia... thanks to oil money, their despots can afford to buy peace within their boarders.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
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