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by Peter A. Belmont / 2011-01-31
© 2011 Peter Belmont
We are accustomed to describe (or to hear described) much of the world as governed by “warlords” (or by “tyrants”, “dictators”, “kings”). We are accustomed to describe (and to hear described) other parts of the world as “democracies.”
Governments of the first kind practice assassination, torture, imprisonment without charge, trial, communication-with-families-and-lawyers (disappearance), etc. There is, there, a distinct failing of what in America is (still) called the rule of law, due process of law, freedom, free speech and press, etc.[1]
The USA is pretty good about avoiding the worst of these practices, but as the “war on terror” continues to offer an excuse for toe-dipping into the (to right-wingers enticing) sea of totalitarian practices, even our Democratic president continues these practices and seemingly increases them. Ever wonder why?
I like to see (much of) the world in terms of “war lords.” China before 1950, Chiang Kai-Shek ruling Taiwan as one warlord among many others. Afghanistan today. Egypt today where “the people” may, possibly, be opposed by “the army” which, if it act, will act as a “war lord.” The dominant, expansionist political-military thread in Israel as a single warlord in Palestine (or in Palestine-Lebanon-Jordan).
”War lord” <- - -> a local center of power, among several, traditionally armed. But not always.
Within the USA, the warlords today are: Big Banks, Big Credit Cards, Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Auto, Big Agribusiness, TheMIC, The Israel Lobby—so many. And so legal.
America has seen fit to allow and encourage [1] Lobbying and [2] Campaigning based on free flow of big money (and, for these two not-so-narrow purposes, declined to characterize in-effect-quid-pro-quo gifts to politicians as illegal corrupt practices). (Campaign contributions and lobbying contributions as “Speech”—my foot! I could live out the rest of my life in comfort on any single instance of such “speech”.)
Iran is in the news these days. Let’s look at the USA/UK overthrow of the democratic government in Iran in 1953, which installed the Shah and his tyrannical government, leading eventually to the overthrow of the Shah and the rising to power of the intolerant ayatollahs.[2][3]
In 1953, the democratically elected Mossadegh wanted to take Iran’s oil profits out of the hands of British Petroleum, but USA and UK wanted to continue BP’s profits. I don’t understand that BP was a “war lord” but, rather, that the power of the wider capitalism moved the USA/UK to act as a puppet of the capitalist-system (acting as as generalized “warlord” in the somewhat “democratic” USA/UK) to get rid of Mossadegh.
I do not see that Iran would have stopped selling oil under Mossadegh. I do not see that “markets” in oil would have been disturbed under Mossadegh. I do not see that the people of the USA or the UK were clamoring for removal of Mossadegh. Or had been or would later be harmed by his government. No. The simple reality is that in 1953 the capitalists used their home governments as their tools. In this case, the CIA worked for BP, a British corporation—not even a USA corporation! American tax dollars at work!
The phenomenon of the tails wagging the dogs is normal in these matters today, as capitalists continue to protect both their domestic and their overseas profits and as the Israel lobby protects its overseas non-economic interests in protecting Israel’s role as terrorist overlord and suppressor of democratic, human, and national rights in Palestine-Israel.
Life under warlords is more peaceful in USA than in some other places. But not more democratic, for both the expressed will of the people and the inchoate good-of-the-people oppose these “warlords” of capitalism. Americans have shown that they wish to end the cruel and so-expensive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, wish to establish freedom for the Palestinians, wish to punish the banks, desire cheaper pharmaceuticals under Medicare and under the new Health Care, would prefer spending money for schools and local governments rather than continuing to support the bloated USA military and its overpaid mercenaries such as Blackwater/Xe and other war-profiteers such as Halliburton.
To me, the most interesting and encouraging thing about the Egyptian revolution of January 2011 is that it has been non-violent (except for looting—said to have been done by criminals released from jail by Mubarak’s police to create the appearance of chaos and violence). The army has stayed out of it, as did the army in Tunisia. So far so good.
Revolution in the USA to break the power of America’s warlords could also be non-violent, and the American people have shown all the signs necessary for a successful, peaceful, post-revolutionary period: well-developed democratic traditions and instincts, some industry and jobs and a good prospect for more, making a post-revolutionary well-ordered and democratic society a good likelihood. All we need do is cut off the flow of presently-legal funding from corporations and the rich to politicians, political parties, and (in the case of corporations whether or not “American”) to the making of independent political statements.[4]
Any of us alive today should live to see the day!
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[1] However, America also drifts toward the police state occasionally, sigh.
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[2] The non-Islamic nature of the present revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia are reassuring to me, a believer in non-secular governance.
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[3] Learn from our mistakes Letter from an Iranian to the people of Egypt.
Over 32 years ago, Iranian people did the same against the oppressive regime of the then Shah of Iran, for the same reasons.
My dear Egyptian brothers and sisters,
When we look back in our own lives, sometimes there are situations we wish we handled differently, had we KNOWN more, or had we been wiser. Life of a nation is no different. So I am writing to you, to share our experience, in the hope, the people of Egypt can do better than people of Iran, in dealing with their dictator, and build a better Egypt.
32 years ago, as the emotions of our nation was focused on the immediate removal of the Shah, our mind was not looking forward as to what to replace that old bankrupt system with? Today, not only are Iranian people no closer to a more accountable government nor better living standards, our social freedom along with our political freedom has been taken away from us as well.
Egyptian brothers and sisters,
Today in Iran, we don’t have basic political freedom to assemble, as the Islamic Regime of Iran, does not allow freedom of assembly. Today, the Islamic Regime of Iran, does not even allow a candidate that passed its filtering process, and according to their own statistics received over 13 million votes, to hold a simple rally. How much freedom do you think an Iranian have today? Today, we do not have political parties. Even political factions are not tolerated within the Islamic regime.
My dear Egyptian brothers and sisters,
In spite of Iran’s vast natural resources, many in Iran live in poverty and those who ask for accountability, are persecuted. So to flee Iran, appears to be the main option. As a result, some of the best and brightest talents of Iran, lives outside Iran, contributing to the host country who sheltered them instead of their own!
Not only books, films, newspapers are routinely censored for not having the same view as the Islamic Regime, their authors are often imprisoned and in many cases even murdered for such attempts.
Under Islamic Regime of Iran today, we do not have freedom of speech, access to unfiltered internet, nor even can we watch news other than what they want us to see on satellite TV in the privacy of our home! For the past 32 years, the Iranian people have faced the threat of a Islamic Regime guard raiding their homes, for the crime of watching something other than appears on their TV’s.
Today in Iran, our women are not allowed to wear Hejab if they so choose and not wear the Hejab if they don’t. The women are beaten or arrested if they don’t abide by Islamic Regime, Talebani version of Islamic code.
But our lessons:
-- Don’t bring religion to government. We Iranian people unfortunately did, and the results are far worse than what we had. Fortunately, you do not have a powerful character like Khomanee who said one thing, before reaching power, and the opposite after. But still, avoid those who provide their strict religious belief as the solution, for complex problems that faces us today. Our problems today, require collective cooperation and rational thinking, and the freedom to do so. Do not let political-Islam to make you envy even these dark days of Mobark, 30 years later!
--Don’t just focus on removal of that brutal, ignorant dictator Mobark, but also focus on visionary Egyptions that are NOT power hungry, focused on solving the issues, and are not hateful in their speeches.
--When the tyrant Mobarak finally agrees to step down, don’t try to destroy your government and start from zero. That would only take you back another 30 years like it has done so for Iran. Every system, has bad but also very good individual that serves it.
--Don’t execute or torture anyone, even those who tortured you or executed your loved ones. That’s the only way to insure, execution and torture will be eradicated.
--Destruction of headquarters of Mobarks party is valid reaction to his despotic rule, but do not destroy banks, theaters. Those all belong to Egypt not Mobark.
--When you are rewriting you constitution, do not trust closed door sessions. Read every page of the documents and understand their ramifications. It is better to take the time to come up with a great document, than to hurry this process and have to redo it again in 30 years!
--Here’s one we should have chanted from day 1 and we did not, Iran for all Iranian. Say, Egypt for all Egyptians! Moslem or Christian, northerner or southerners. Be aware of anyone who tries to do otherwise.
The whole world is watching and we hope you set a better example than our revolution did. We hope we can learn from you. A powerful, democratic Egypt is good for the region. Egypt is now in a unique position to be great both for her own people but also a good example for the region.
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[4] Justice Stevens, in dissent, was compelled to state the obvious:
. . . . corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their “personhood” often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of “We the People” by whom and for whom our Constitution was established.from website devoted to amendment of the USA Constitution regarding corporate personhood
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