Criminal
11-13-2001, 02:44 AM
What interesting changes we have seen in the mere space of 20 years. We have seen the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin wall. We have seen yesterdays enemies become todays friends and some old friends have become bitter enemies. Concider the following. This is how the US media perceived various countires and peoples in 1980 and how the same are seen today:
1980
RUSSIA: The Russian bear was the "Empire of Evil". The Soviet Antichrist and so on. Invader of Afghanistan, the opressor of Poland.
AFGHANISTAN: A nation of couragous people fighting single handedly against the Russian bear. The defenders of freedom.
IRAN: The principal enemy of the United States. Holders of some 50 american hostages. Ruled by a fanatical religious dictator. Murders and killers and sponsers of terrorism the world over.
SHIITE MUSLAMS: The dominant faith of Iran. More millitant than the more benign Sunnis.
SUNNI MUSLAMS: The faith of most Islamic States with pro western policies: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, etc.
ISREAL: The closed friend and allie of the United States. The only sane people in a region of insane people.
IRAQ: Ruled by the then unknown Sadam Hussein. Hardly a nice guy but at least they were fighting the Iranians.
CHINA: Yes they were communists, but they were our friends. Allies in our struggle agains the Russian bear.
PALESTINE: A term used to describe the country that would exist if the PLO had their way. The PLO were a bunch of terrorists who were pushed out of their homeland by the Isrealis. To get their homeland back they committed acts of terror.
LEBANON: A nation in the mids of a brutal war. Partially occupied by Isreal.
INDIA: One of the few Democracies in the region. Basically not a bad nation, but a bit too close to the Soviets.
PAKISTAN: One of the few US allies among moslem nations.
BRITIAN: US's closest ally. Under Margret Thatcher's conservative administration.
FRANCE: A member of Nato but a bit further to the left. Often opposed to US's foreign policies.
POLAND: A nation that never quite accepted its domination by Soviet communists. Had much sympathy and support in the US.
NICUAGRA, EL SALVADOR etc.: Latin American nations struggling for freedom from US Domination.
TODAY
RUSSIA: An allie of the US. Came out big loosers in the cold war. Now under the control of Putin, is joining the US in its effort against the Taliban.
AFGHANISTAN: Under the control of the Taliban. The Taliban were once supported by the US, but now are concidered one of the states sponsering terror world wide.
IRAN: Now under more benign leadership. Being Shiite (Q.V.) they are opposed to the radical Taliban and thus are an allie of the United States.
SHIITE MUSLAMS: No longer a threat. In the Afghan war they are an allie of the US.
SUNNI MUSLAMS: The faith of Osama Bin Laden. Also the faith of the Taliban. The radical Taliban has launched a campaign of harassment against the Shiites.
ISREAL: Still a friend of the US but under the thick headed Arial Sharon they are becomming something of an embarrassment. Sort of like a younger brother who cant keep his mouth shut. You love the guy but you wish you didnt have to take him anywhere.
IRAQ: Saddam is no longer unknown. His army got their butts kicked 10 years ago but he is still in charge. No longer the threat he once was. He still makes noise but no one seems to listen anymore.
CHINA: In the latest war they are allies of the US. All the same we dont have the same kind of trust for these guys ever since their suppression of Tienemin square. For the time being Bush is willing to enlist their support.
PALESTINE: Now, at least in theory, it is a seperate nation. PLO leader Arafat is no longer a terrorist but a head of state. He says he is on the US side. The problem is, can he stop the hot heads among his people?
LEBANON: The war is over and this country is off the political map for now....thank goodness!
INDIA: Now they are in our corner. Their conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir has put them at odds with america's muslam allies.
PAKISTAN: Currently they are on america's side. We can hope their millitary dictator will keep things under control. The problem is there are so many religious fanatics stirring the pot there, we can only hope things stay under control. OH... One more thing: the Pakistani's got the bomb....
BRITIAN: Still an allie of the US, in spite of its current Labor government.
FRANCE: Now under a more conservative administration.
POLAND: Has its freedom now, but its economy is in shambles. Off the political map. Ironically, the Poles got so fed up with Solidarity and its inablity to get the economy going that it returned former communists.
NICUAGRA, EL SALVADORE: Off the political map. Thank goodness....
1980
RUSSIA: The Russian bear was the "Empire of Evil". The Soviet Antichrist and so on. Invader of Afghanistan, the opressor of Poland.
AFGHANISTAN: A nation of couragous people fighting single handedly against the Russian bear. The defenders of freedom.
IRAN: The principal enemy of the United States. Holders of some 50 american hostages. Ruled by a fanatical religious dictator. Murders and killers and sponsers of terrorism the world over.
SHIITE MUSLAMS: The dominant faith of Iran. More millitant than the more benign Sunnis.
SUNNI MUSLAMS: The faith of most Islamic States with pro western policies: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, etc.
ISREAL: The closed friend and allie of the United States. The only sane people in a region of insane people.
IRAQ: Ruled by the then unknown Sadam Hussein. Hardly a nice guy but at least they were fighting the Iranians.
CHINA: Yes they were communists, but they were our friends. Allies in our struggle agains the Russian bear.
PALESTINE: A term used to describe the country that would exist if the PLO had their way. The PLO were a bunch of terrorists who were pushed out of their homeland by the Isrealis. To get their homeland back they committed acts of terror.
LEBANON: A nation in the mids of a brutal war. Partially occupied by Isreal.
INDIA: One of the few Democracies in the region. Basically not a bad nation, but a bit too close to the Soviets.
PAKISTAN: One of the few US allies among moslem nations.
BRITIAN: US's closest ally. Under Margret Thatcher's conservative administration.
FRANCE: A member of Nato but a bit further to the left. Often opposed to US's foreign policies.
POLAND: A nation that never quite accepted its domination by Soviet communists. Had much sympathy and support in the US.
NICUAGRA, EL SALVADOR etc.: Latin American nations struggling for freedom from US Domination.
TODAY
RUSSIA: An allie of the US. Came out big loosers in the cold war. Now under the control of Putin, is joining the US in its effort against the Taliban.
AFGHANISTAN: Under the control of the Taliban. The Taliban were once supported by the US, but now are concidered one of the states sponsering terror world wide.
IRAN: Now under more benign leadership. Being Shiite (Q.V.) they are opposed to the radical Taliban and thus are an allie of the United States.
SHIITE MUSLAMS: No longer a threat. In the Afghan war they are an allie of the US.
SUNNI MUSLAMS: The faith of Osama Bin Laden. Also the faith of the Taliban. The radical Taliban has launched a campaign of harassment against the Shiites.
ISREAL: Still a friend of the US but under the thick headed Arial Sharon they are becomming something of an embarrassment. Sort of like a younger brother who cant keep his mouth shut. You love the guy but you wish you didnt have to take him anywhere.
IRAQ: Saddam is no longer unknown. His army got their butts kicked 10 years ago but he is still in charge. No longer the threat he once was. He still makes noise but no one seems to listen anymore.
CHINA: In the latest war they are allies of the US. All the same we dont have the same kind of trust for these guys ever since their suppression of Tienemin square. For the time being Bush is willing to enlist their support.
PALESTINE: Now, at least in theory, it is a seperate nation. PLO leader Arafat is no longer a terrorist but a head of state. He says he is on the US side. The problem is, can he stop the hot heads among his people?
LEBANON: The war is over and this country is off the political map for now....thank goodness!
INDIA: Now they are in our corner. Their conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir has put them at odds with america's muslam allies.
PAKISTAN: Currently they are on america's side. We can hope their millitary dictator will keep things under control. The problem is there are so many religious fanatics stirring the pot there, we can only hope things stay under control. OH... One more thing: the Pakistani's got the bomb....
BRITIAN: Still an allie of the US, in spite of its current Labor government.
FRANCE: Now under a more conservative administration.
POLAND: Has its freedom now, but its economy is in shambles. Off the political map. Ironically, the Poles got so fed up with Solidarity and its inablity to get the economy going that it returned former communists.
NICUAGRA, EL SALVADORE: Off the political map. Thank goodness....