Hi teribus,

"My question regarding Saddam Husein was asked in connection with your assertion that he was put in power as a military dictator by the western powers. In your reply above you mention the Sauds in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman. What is the connection to my question?"

As I tried to point out, the origin of the regimes in the region depended critically on the support and interests of the US, the UK and other European powers. They become "friends" to the extent that economic interests of the west are supported. That's why I suggested reading about it. In my view, the evidence points to the US always defending its oil interests and promoting regimes that will look after them regardless of their human rights records, democracy, or anything else. Fred Halliday has provided very detailed evidence of where these regimes came from, including of the Ba'ath Party and what they stand for, and the conclusion is as above.

Sounds like you really don't want to know about this stuff.


Given the historical record, it is naive to think that the US will somehow change its tune. All over the world, it defends its capital by whatever means it can get away with. No expectation that this will change.