| IRE |
Ireland is a democratic country.
Fianna Fail, the Progressive Democrats, Labour, Fine Gael, the Greens, Sinn
Fein and the Socialist Workers Party are the main parties. The idea is that
people vote the party which best represents them into power. The party with
the greatest vote wins. But parties can merge their votes at election time
to form a coalition, and share power in government. This has created a lot
of voter apathy and non voting since it seems it doesn't matter which party
you vote for since it can be ousted by a coalition of other less popular
parties. |
| IRQ |
Iraq is not a democratic country
at the moment. Paul Bremer is the US military dictator who was not elected
by Iraqis. We are promised this will change in 2004 sometime, but many are
skeptical that an Iraqi democratically elected government with full control
over the countries oil resources and power to eject US military personnel
and air bases will take power in the forseeable future. Iraq was a dictatorship
anyway with Saddam and the Baath party making it a 1 party state. |
| US |
The US, to the casual observer,
is a 2 party state, the Democrats and the Republicans. On the Iraq issue
the Democrats under Bill Clinton were happy to impose sanctions, no-fly zones,
and bomb Iraq for most of the 90s, although no formal invasion was announced.
The Republicans under George Bush Snr and Jnr have invaded Afghanistan and
Iraq and are making noises about Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba. Although
the US seeks an impartial appearance to the Israels invasion of Palestine,
by proposing a peace plan, it actively donates billions to the Israeli military
in cash and weapons e.g. Apache gunship helicopters as favoured by the Israelis
for blowing up Hamas leaders in wheelchairs etc., armoured CAT bulldozers
to demolish houses with people even US citizens such as Rachel Corrie, in
them and the ubiquitous M-16 rifle. Its hard to believe that Israel became
a nuclear missile possessor overnight without US aid either
so many believe the US is the de facto invader of Palestine. The US prides itself on having a free market and open democracy, but with the Democrats and Republicans both armed to the teeth and willing to use and distribute them, how much better is a 2 party state to the much vilified 1 party state ? In April 2002 the US failed to oppose the military coup led by Pedro Carmona, an oil baron against Hugo Chavez, the democratically elected president of Venezuela (3rd / 4th largest oil producing country in the world). The documentary shows Colin Powell on CNN express "extreme concern" with that angst ridden face that only he can master that Chavez "doesn't have America's interest at heart". He cannot understand that a Venezuelan president would prefer to have Venezuela's interests at heart ! Has to be seen to be appreciated. Pedro Carmona has fled Venezuela and is currently living in Miami, Florida, so although no formal evidence exists that the coup was US driven, the US government are harbouring him. US in September 2003 declined to oppose the Isreali threat to "remove" Yasser Arafat, the democratically elected leader of Palestine. Syria proposed a UN resolution asking Israel to withdraw it's statement that it would "remove" (i.e. murder) Yasser Arafat. The majority of countries aggreed with the resolution, so in a democratic UN it would have passed, but the US vetoed against it. So in effect the US are saying it is OK to murder democratically elected heads of state ! Some anti-Bush election ads: www.bushin30seconds.org |
| Cambodia |
US supported Pol Pot & Khmer Rouge since they
kept Vietnamese communists out. |
| Congo / Zaire |
US helped Mobutu Seseku to power & oversaw assasination
of nationalist leader Patrice Lumumba. Mobutu ruled till 1990. |
| Indonesia |
Worlds most populous Muslim country. 1965 democratically
elected president overthrown with US help & dictator General Sharto in
power for 30 yrs. Suharto killed about 500,000 but US didn't stop him from
invading East Timor in 70's where he killed 200,000. |
| China |
Communist, but has 800 Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets,
400 McDonalds, 100 Pizza Huts & Kodak nearly have a monopoly. US imports
6 times what it exports to China. Does Capitalism needs Communism ?? |