26 November 2006

Not so different from the old boss

Meet the newly nominated candidate for the position of US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. It's a good thing that he's to run the War Department because he is not exactly a man of peace nor does he seem to have much of a knowledge of or respect for international law.

When he was at the CIA in the 1980s he advocated "dealing" with the Sandinista government in Nicaragua in a four point plan that entailed:

  • US air strikes "to destroy a considerable portion of Nicaragua's military build-up".
  • Warning Cuba and the USSR that the US would not allow further weapons deliveries to the Nicaraguan government.
  • Tougher economic sanctions including a naval blockade
  • Switching diplomatic recognition from the legitimately elected government to the rag tag band of right wingers and oligarchs that comprised the so-called "contra".

It is good to see that we are likely to be pursuing a new and independent course in Iraq then.

No comments: