THIS ARTICLE BY HEATHER MAHR IS A BOOK REPORT WITH PROPAGANDA SPRINKLED IN. SADLY, I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ DAVID WALLINSKY'S BOOK ENTITLED "TYRANT: THE WORLDS 20 WORST LIVING DICTATORS. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HEATHER MAHR'S ARTICLE BELOW.
February 8, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Belorussian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in recent weeks has alternately defied Russia, flirted with Europe, and stressed his determination to go it alone.
HEATHER, THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING THAT LUKASHENKA IS THE PRESIDENT OF BELARUS, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT 86% OF HIS COUNTRYMEN VOTED FOR HIM LAST SPRING. LUKASHENKA HAS NOT DEFIED RUSSIA, HE HAS SIMPLY NOT BEEN WILLING TO ACCEPT UNFAVORABLE GAS PRICES TO BE FORCED UPON BELARUS WITHOUT EVERY POSSIBLE DIPLOMATIC AVENUE BEING EXPLORED. AND HE HAS NOT FINALIZED THE UNION STATE AS EQUITABLE AND SYMMETRIC CONDITIONS HAVE NOT YET BEEN AGREED UPON WITH RUSSIA. LUKASHENKAS EUROPEAN POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED, HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO DO BUSINESS WITH EUROPE, BUT HE WILL NOT ACCEPT LOPSIDED ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IMPOSED ON BELARUS. BELARUS IS A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, AND IT IS SAD WHEN THEY MUST ONLY RELY ON THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT LUKASHENKA IS CORRECT THAT IN THE AREA OF TRADE AND ASSISTANCE, IT IS QUALITY THAT MATTERS MORE THAN QUANTITY. MAYBE THAT IS WHAT YOU MEAN BY HIS "GOING IT ALONE"
Some prognosticators may be predicting the imminent demise of Belarus's beleagured leader. LUKASHENKA IS NOT BELEAGURED BY ANYONE BUT THE WEST. HIS PEOPLE GIVE HIM APPROVAL RATINGS GEORGE BUSH WILL NEVER DREAM OF SEEING. But Alyaksandr Lukashenka begs to differ. In an interview this week, he suggested rumors of the death of his political career have been greatly exaggerated. LUKASHENKAS POLITICAL CAREER HAS NOT YET REACHED ITS APEX, AND IT IS CLEARLY NOT IN DECLINE.
"If God gives me strength to fulfill all that I have promised to the Belorussian people, if health permits me and I achieve my goals, if I am still as active as you say I am, then I will tell you honestly, I will not abandon political struggle," Lukashenka told Reuters.
Is "Europe's last dictator" that dedicated to his job, or simply loathe to consider the alternative? IT IS IMPERTINENT TO CONTINUE TO REFER TO A LEGALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT AS A DICTATOR. HOW DOES A DICTATOR GET RE-ELECTED BY AN 86% APPROVAL MARGIN?
Self-Preservation
In fact, autocratic leaders like Alyaksandr Lukashenka, irrespective of political philosophy, all share a key instinct -- keeping themselves in power. ALEXANDER LUKASHENKA DOES WIELD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER IN BELARUS, HOWEVER IT IS NOT CORRECT TO LABEL HIM AN AUTOCRAT. THE POWER IN BELARUS IS CENTRALIZED WITH THE PRESIDENT TO PREVENT THE SAME SORT OF POWER VACUUM PROBLEMS THAT ROBBED MANY OF THE CIS COUNTRIES OF THEIR ASSETS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FALL OF THE USSR. THERE IS NO OTHER SENSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO ENSURE THE BELARUSIAN PUBLIC ASSETS AND INSTITUTIONS DON'T GET STOLEN IN THE NIGHT OTHER THAN A CENTRALIZED POWER BASE. THIS IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF SELF PRESERVATION OF A SINGLE MAN, IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF SELF PRESERVATION OF A COUNTRY.
"If he's having trouble with the Europeans, and he's having trouble with the Russians, he'll do what a lot of other dictators doAMERICA AND THE WEST HAVE MADE A SPORT OF PERSECUTING LUKASHENKA SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WILL NOT ABANDON MANY OF THE SOVIET SYSTEMS WHICH ARE WORKING WELL IN FAVOR OF SOCIO ECONOMIC ANARCHY. RUSSIA HAS MADE AN INCORRECT CHOICE TO PUT PROFITS ABOVE FRIENDS AND BLOOD, – he'll turn to the Chinese, he'll turn to the Iranians, he'll turn to that whole world of dictators who try to help each other." IT IS SENSIBLE FOR BELARUS TO TRADE AND BE FRIENDLY WITH ANY NATION NOT ACTIVELY ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY HER. IF BELARUS FINDS FRIENDSHIP AND GOOD TRADING WITH NATIONS WHO ARE OUT OF VOGUE WITH THE WEST, THEN BELARUS SHOULD CONSIDER HERSELF LUCKY TO HAVE THESE GOOD FRIENDS FOR THEIR OWN SAKE.
That's according to U.S. journalist David Wallachinsky, the author of "Tyrant: The World's 20 Worst Living Dictators," a detailed account of presidents, kings, and princes who rule their countries with an iron fist. THE PHRASE IRON FIST REFERS TO VIOLENCE USED TO SUPPRESS AND CONTROL A NATION. HOW HAS LUKASHENKA VIOLENTLY SUPPRESSED HIS PEOPLE. LETS EXAMINE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE IN AMERICA WITH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE IN BELARUS. WHICH SOCIETY SUFFERS FROM VIOLENCE MORE?
Wallachinsky divides dictators into three categories.
There are those who inherit their power from a family member, like Syria's Bashir al-Assad. There are those, like Cuba's Fidel Castro, who take over the country by force. IF CASTRO IS GOING TO BE TERMED A DICTATOR, I DISAGREE WITH THIS LABEL, BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT CASTRO CAME TO POWER BY OVERTHROWING A DICTATOR, A DICTATOR THAT WAS US SUPPORTED. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN ATTACKING CASTRO, THEY SHOULD NOTE THE QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS ENJOYED BY THE CITIZENS OF CUBA, AND COMPARE THESE SAME INDICATORS WITH OTHER LATIN PEOPLES WHOSE LEADERS HAVEN'T BEEN LABELED AS DICTATORS.
And then, Wallachinsky says, there are those who simply rise up through the political ranks to take power LUKASHENKA WAS CLEANLY AND FAIRLY VOTED TO OFFICE, AND ONLY BECAME LABELED AS A DICTATOR WHEN HE REFUSED TO SUBMIT BELARUS TO ECONOMIC SHOCK THERAPY. -- as is the case with Lukashenka and other post-Soviet autocrats.
"In the case of Lukashenka, Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, [Saparmurat] Niyazov of Turkmenistan, et cetera -- these gentlemen were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, when communism collapsed in the Soviet Union," Wallachinsky says.
"They were able to transform themselves into the symbol of a new, independent country while retaining quite a bit of the old Soviet system." IT IS A FAILURE OF THE WEST THAT WE HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CLONE SOME OF THE SUCCESSFUL FEATURES OF SOVIET SOCIALISM. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE MADE US COMMUNISTS, BUT IT WOULD HAVE HELPED US TO OVERCOME MANY OF OUR ENDEMIC SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
Bad Company
Wallachinsky, who refreshes his list each year, ranks his subjects from one to 20, one being the worst. IF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, AND IRAQ, AND AFGHANISTAN WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE AND THUS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS LIST, WHICH LIVING "PRESIDENT" WOULD LIKELY BE THUS INCLUDED?
Lukashenka (right) with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Minsk in July 2006 (official site)The ranking is based on criteria such as violations of free speech and religion, rigged elections, an corrupt judiciary, and the inability to stage public protests or criticize the government without punishment. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO NOTE QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS FOR ALL COUNTRIES AND SEE HOW MANY OF THE 20 COUNTRIES LISTED AS DICTATORSHIPS ACTUALLY ENJOY HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE THAN THE REMAINING "DEMOCRACIES" IF THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT NOTED FOR HAVING A CORRUPT JUDICIARY, THEN WALLACHINSKY HAS SIMPLY IGNORED BASIC FACTS KNOWN TO MOST OF AMERICA.
In this year's list -- due to be published February 11, Lukashenka ranks 14th, the same position he held in 2006. SO WALLACHINSKY FEELS THAT BELORUSSIANS ARE AS OPPRESSED AS THE SAUDI'S. PERHAPS WALLACHINSKY THINKS BELORUSSIAN WOMEN WOULD LIKE TO TRADE PLACES WITH THE SAUDI WOMEN. OH, NO WAIT A MINUTE THEY ARE 9 LEVELS APART. BUT IF THE SAUDI'S ARE SO MUCH WORSE THAN THE BELARUSIANS, HOW COME THERE ISN'T A SAUDI ARABIAN DEMOCRACY ACT?
This puts the Belorussian leader slightly ahead of Karimov at No. 8, and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at No. 5. DOES RADIO FREE EUROPE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA?
But it leaves him below a newcomer to the list, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who enters the ranking at No. 20 -- nudged in, perhaps, thanks to the space vacated by Niyazov, last year's No. 8, who died in December.
The absolute worst living dictator, according to Wallachinsky, is President Omar Hasan Ahmad Al-Bashir of Sudan, who has been accused of orchestrating the murder and displacement of hundreds of thousands in his country's Darfur region. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO NOT HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN WASTED TRYING TO DESTROY BELARUS, AND HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT TO GIVE LEGITIMATE AIDE TO THE VICTIMS OF DARFUR.
Other world leaders on Wallachinsky's list are North Korea's Kim Jong-il (No. 2),FEW WESTERNERS WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN MODERN NORTH KOREA, BUT HAS ANYONE FORGOTTEN THAT UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY SOUTH KOREA WAS ITSELF A BRUTAL DICTATORSHIP. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE HARD TIMES ENDURED BY NORTH KOREAS POPULATION ARE SINGULARLY BECAUSE OF ITS LEADER KIM JONG-IL, but please remember that all post soviet countries have suffered severe economic problems after the fall of the soviet union. This would lead the logical observer to conclude that these same soviet countries BENEFITED ECONOMICLY from the soviet union. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (No. 3), IRAN IS ANOTHER PLACE I WOULDN'T CHOOSE TO LIVE TODAY, BUT LETS NOT FORGET THE PREVIOUS LEADER OF IRAN WAS THE SHAH, HIMSELF A NOTORIOUS AND BRUTAL DICTATOR, DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHO THE SHA'S BIGGEST SUPPORTER WAS? China's Hu Jintao (No. 4), CAN ANYONE IMAGINE WHAT TYPE OF HUMANITARIAN DISASTER WOULD OCCUR IF THE COMMUNISTS WERE TO LOSE POWER IN CHINA? DOES ANYONE WANT THIS? ALSO, WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT CHINA HAS ENJOYED MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS WITH THE U.S. FOR YEARS, AND THE MILITARY AND ECONOMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS SAME COMMUNIST COUNTRY WOULD LIKELY NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HARD CURRENCY THEY HAVE EARNED BY THE SALES OF THEIR ITEMS TO AMERICA. Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (No. 7), and Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan (No. 15).
Track Suits
Of all the figures on Wallachinsky's list, Lukashenka is the only leader whom the journalist has had occasion to observe up close and in person.
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Wallachinsky witnessed the Belorussian leader several nights in a row in a section of the ice hockey arena reserved for elite guests. YUP, LUKASHENKA LOVES HOCKEY. VIP SECTIONS ARE NOT UNIQUE TO JAPAN, DO YOU THINK BUSH SITS IN THE NOSEBLEED SECTION AT ANY GAME?
"I got the impression that he was kind of ashamed of his background, that he wanted to be the sophisticated world leader, and if you met his wife you'd know where he really came from." WHAT A DIPSHIT REMARK. HOW COULD THE PRESIDENT OF ANY COUNTRY BE ASHAMED OF WHERE HE REALLY CAME FROM. LUKASHENKAS PERSONAL LIFE IS NO SECRET. AND ANY PLEBEIAN NATURE HE EXHIBITS LIKELY ONLY ENDEARS HIM TO HIS COUNTRYMEN. WHAT DOES HIS WIFE HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING? WHY DRAG HER INTO THIS.
His overwhelming impression, Wallachinsky says, was that Lukashenka looked and acted like a "gangster." WHAT DOES A GANGSTER LOOK LIKE? THIS IS SIMPLY HATEFUL SLANDER.
Lukashenka at an inline-skating competition in Minsk in July 2001 (TASS)"On the first couple of evenings, he showed up dressed in a suit and tie, as befits a world leader. And his bodyguards were dressed similarly," he says. "And then suddenly they started showing up in sports outfits -- you know, track suits. THATS WEIRD, WEARING WARM UPS TO A SPORTING EVENT. NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE. [But] in no way did it change their appearance. They still appeared to be a political mafia." IT IS VERY IRONIC FOR WALLACHINSKY TO BE REFERRING TO LUKASHENKA AS A MAFIA TYPE FIGURE. A GIANT PART OF LUKASHENKAS POLICIES AND PLATFORMS ARE ENGENEERED TO PREVENT MAFIA'S FROM TAKING POWER IN BELARUS. MAFIA'S TAKE POWER WHEN THERE IS A POWER VACUUM. IF WALLACHINSIKY THINKS LUKASHENKA IS A MAFIA FIGURE, PERHAPS HE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO DO BUSINESS IN A COUNTRY LIKE RUSSIA OR THE UKRAINE, AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE MAYBE WALLACINSKY WOULD HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THE ANTI ORGANIZED CRIME POLICIES THAT ARE IN EFFECT IN BELARUS.
In his research on dictators, Wallachinsky looks not only at the oppressive policies they impose on their citizens. LUKASHENKA HAS NOT IMPOSED ANY POLICIES ON THE PEOPLE OF BELARUS, LUKASHENKA HAS BEEN A LEADER, AND SIGNED INTO LEGISLATION ONLY WHAT THE PEOPLE AS A WHOLE DESIRE. He also examines details from their personal lives. WALLACHINSKY HAS NOW GONE FROM AMATEUR POLITICAL ANALYST TO COMMON GARDEN VARIETY PAPPARAZZI, IF PRINCESS DIANA WAS ALIVE, I WONDER IF SHE WOULD FIND THE PERSONAL LIVES OF PRESIDENTS A CREDIBLE READ?
He says he does this to remind readers of the disturbing fact that these are real people, not invented monsters. HE PRINTS THE PERSONAL LIVES TO SELL HIS BOOK TO PERSONS INTERESTED IN READING TABLOID DETAILS OF WORLD LEADERS.
While researching Lukashenka's private life, Wallachinsky hit a dead end trying to find a picture of the president's wife. WHAT THE HELL DOES LUKASHENKAS WIFE HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING. THIS IS SIMPLY HARASSMENT OF A WORLD LEADER, WITH LITTLE CONCERN FOR THEIR FAMILY. THIS GUY NEEDS A RESTRAINING ORDER. When he asked a group of Belarusian sports journalists at the Olympics, they said they had never seen her, or even a picture of her. THIS IS A STUPID COMMENT, FIRST OF ALL WHO THE HELL CARES IF HER PICTURE IS COMMONLY AVAILABLE, AND SECONDLY IT DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING IF SOME GUYS HANGING AROUND AT THE OLYMPICS KNOW WHO SHE IS, WHAT OLYMPICS, WHAT YEAR? THIS DUMB ASS COMMENT IMPLIES THAT CITIZENS OF SMALLER COUNTRIES COULD OR SHOLD BE ABLE TO COMMONLY IDENTIFIY THE FIRST LADY AS READILY AS WE CAN HERE IN AMERICA. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT IS A DESTRUCTIVE AND FUTILE IDEA TO MEASURE A LEADER BY UNIMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL LIFE. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF AMERICA, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT LESSON AS IT RELATES TO BILL CLINTON.
Wallachinsky found this missing link bizarre. He now says it helped him develop a theory about Lukashenka's personal demons. DEMONS, WHAT DEMONS?
"I got the impression that he was kind of ashamed of his background, that he wanted to be the sophisticated world leader, and if you met his wife, you'd know where he really came from," he says. IS THIS SOME KIND OF INSULT TO LUKASHENKAS WIFE? IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE WHERE HE CAME FROM. FOR YOUR INFORMATION WALLACHINSKY, LUKASHENKA IS ABOUT 20 TIMES MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN THE CLOWN/WAR CRIMINAL THAT WE HAVE IN OFFICE NOW.
In fact, Lukashenka's wife, Halina, has never officially served as first lady. YOU KNOW WHAT, IT IS REALLY SHITTY TO DRAG LUKASHENKAS WIFE INTO THIS BOOK. She lives alone in the small Belarusian city of Shklou, where Lukashenka held a job at the beginning of his career. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF AMERICA, WE ARE REALLY FUCKING SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING THIRD RATE PAPARAZZI AND BOOK HACKS LIKE YOU STALKING ANY PRESIDENT FROM LUKASHENKA TO CLINTON.
Lukashenka is now believed to live with a mistress, with whom he has a young child. But this side of his life is kept under wraps as well. THE HACK JOURNALISM JUST DOESN'T STOP
No Easy Out
So what does the future hold for the 53-year old Lukashenka?
Tyranny expert Wallachinsky more like tabloid book hack than tyranny expert, says this is a difficult time for the Belarusian leader, as he struggles to find a balance between the country's almost crippling economic dependency on Russia and growing pressure from the West to end its self-imposed isolation. BELARUS AND RUSSIA ENJOY GIANT TRADE TURNOVER, AND BELARUS ISN'T IN SELF IMPOSED ISOLATION. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY SPIES AND INSTIGATORS PAID FOR BY THE US GOVERNMENT CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR BELARUS, THAT SHE MUST BE WARY OF WHO SHE CAN TRUST.
Lukashenka (right) with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in Tehran in November 2006 (official site)But Lukashenka's autocratic style is going to be a problem if he tries to forge new friendships, Wallachinsky predicts. LUKASHENKA IS ONLY A PROBLEM FOR THE PEOPLE TRYING TO ROB AND RUIN BELARUS.
"Lukashenka's in a difficult situation, because this is not an era in which the European powers are willing to overlook human rights violations,"THEY HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TROUBLE GETTING OVER THE COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WE HAVE KILLED IN IRAQ. he says. "He just stands out like a sore thumb in Europe. To be a dictator like he is is to be part of times gone by, from a European point of view." THE EUROPEAN ANTI SOVIET LOBBY IS VERY STRONG, AND FANNED BY THE US GOVERNMENT, AND THEY WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO STOMP OUT THE LAST REMAINING HEARTBEATS OF SOVIET SOCIALISM.
So where does it leave Lukashenka if he is rejected by both his traditional ally, Russia, and a Europe that refuses to do business with a politician of his ilk? RUSSIA HASN'T REJECTED BELARUS, BUT THEY ARE IN DIFFICULT FINANCIAL TIMES THERE ALSO, AND THEY HAVE MADE AN INCORRECT DECISION THAT HAS INJURED THEIR DEAR FRIEND BELARUS.
In such a scenario, Wallachinsky believes, Lukashenka will do what many besieged dictators do when they need help -- look to others who are just like him. BELARUS SHOULD TRADE AND BE FRIENDLY WITH ANY NATION THAT IS WILLING TO DO THE SAME.
"If he's having trouble with the Europeans, and he's having trouble with the Russians, he'll do what a lot of other dictators do – he'll turn to the Chinese, he'll turn to the Iranians, he'll turn to that whole world of dictators who try to help each other. ACTUALLY AMERICA HAS NO TROUBLE TRADING WITH THE CHINESE, AND WE WILL HAVE NO MORAL OBJECTION TO TRADING WITH IRAN IF THEY SELL THEIR OIL AT A GOOD PRICE. WE HAVE GOTTEN ALONG PRETTY GOOD WITH PAKISTAN WHEN WE NEEDED TO INVADE AFGHANISTAN, AND WE HAVE NO TROUBLE IGNORING AFRICA, BUT IF WE GET SHORT ON OIL, WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE AN INTEREST THERE ALSO. And he'll increase trade with China, with Pakistan, with Iran, with certain African nations if they have anything that he can use."
Lukashenka, in fact, has already forged ties with the leadership of countries likes of Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela. It's unclear, however, if those alliances will be enough to sustain his reign as "Europe's last dictator." CHAVEZ IS A GREAT PRESIDENT WHOSE POLICIES HAVE ONLY ASSISTED THE COMMON MAN IN VENEZUELA GET MEDICINE, EDUCATION, AND A CHANCE AT A DECENT LIFE. THE ONLY VENEZUELANS WHO OPPOSE CHAVEZ ARE THE VERY RICH WHO CANT IMAGINE THE PAIN OF THEIR PEASANT CLASS.
WHERE DID THE BOOK REPORT START, AND WHERE DID THE PROPAGANDA END. THIS CONCLUDES ANOTHER RED LINE EDITORIAL, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, DON'T BE AFRAID TO THINK FOR YOURSELF!
MICHAEL MILLER
INDIANAPOLIS,
2007
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/02/623acea5-27b4-40c6-808e-54f482df6419.html
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Red Line Editorial--FROM RFE/RL BELARUS: U.S. Ambassador Highlights Economic Potential
April 25, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- For the last four years, U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart has focused on Belarus. She was in Minsk before as deputy chief of mission at the embassy. Then she served as the director of the U.S. State Department's Office for Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus in Washington, D.C.
Back again in Minsk since September 2006, she talks to RFE/RL's Belarus Service about Belarus political prisoners and the country's chance to embrace economic reform.
FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE THE READER TO NOTICE THERE IS NO REPORTER OR JOURNALIST OF RECORD NAMED FOR THIS ARTICLE.
PERHAPS THIS MEANS THERE IS NO SINGLE JOURNALIST OR REPORTER CREATING THESE QUESTIONS. IT IS OBVIOUS THE "QUESTIONS" ARE MERELY RFE/RL SIMPLY DOING WHAT IT WAS TASKED TO DO, THAT IS PUBLICIZE PROPAGANDA THAT WAS WRITTEN IN WASHINGTON TO SERVE THE BENEFIT OF WASHINGTON AND THE BIG MONEY THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS IT.
I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THAT AN "INTERVIEW" HAS NOT ACTUALLY BEEN CONDUCTED HERE. RATHER RFE/RL IS SIMPLY ASKING KAREN STEWART SOME PRE-FABRICATED QUESTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE PRE-DETERMINED RESPONSES.
ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT RFE/RL HAS CAREFULLY ENCLOSED MULTIPLE "STATEMENTS" INSIDE THEIR QUESTIONS. AS KAREN STEWART ANSWERS HER "QUESTIONS" THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S POSITION WAS PRE-VALIDATED BY THE ACTUAL "STATEMENT" THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF EACH "QUESTION" WATCH AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN.
RFE/RL: The U.S. government has numerous times called on the Belorussian authorities to release prisoners of conscience. Have you met with any prisoners of conscience in Belarus or their families? If so, what impression did these meetings leave you with?
BELARUS HAS NO PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE. BELARUS DOES HAVE PERSONS INCARCERATED THAT HAVE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS IN ESPIONAGE, AND TREASON BY THE CIA AND ITS OPERATIVES. RFE/RL IS VERY INTERESTED IN IMPLYING BELORUSSIAN GUILT AT THE ONSET OF THIS INTERVIEW.
Karen Stewart: You've touched on one of the issues that are most important for my embassy and for my government -- seeking the release of political prisoners. Belarus has no political prisoners, but there are some traitors imprisoned, traitors that have taken instruction from their CIA handlers in how to start riots and revolutions. By our count, we're up to 11 Belorussians who are in prison or otherwise detained on politically motivated charges. how many political prisoners has the U.S. held without trial or justice in Cuba and Iraq? I have met a couple of these gentleman and have met several who were previously in prison and are now released and I've had a couple of occasions to meet with the families, to bring the families together, including a Christmas party last December. when will the Christmas party be for all of the prisoners in Guantanamo, will you Karen Stewart be willing to meet with their families like you have met with the families of the Belorussian "political prisoners"/traitors? All of us at the embassy are so impressed by the courage of the political prisoners and by the courage of their families who have to wait and watch and suffer for these years, analogous crimes in America would have brought life sentences. waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.
'It's important to continue assistance to political-party development, to civil society, and independent media.' What Karen Stewart means is that the CIA and the state department will continue to give money to any political party that will benefit them, but is it legal for foreign governments to help small political parties in America come to power? And the independent media she speaks of is only media that will give favorable coverage OF America. Will the State Department give money to an "independent" media that supports Alexander Lukashenka? It would be very possible for Lukashenka to have many supporters who would like to receive financial assistance in their private media endeavors. How much will the State Department give to these media outlets that criticize Washington?
RFE/RL: Summing up U.S.-Belarusian relations in 2006, you noted that, on an official level, there was very little positive to report. it is obvious that Washington sees nothing positive to report, they tried to start a revolution in a peaceful country, and failed! If they were to report too much the general public back home in America would ultimately realize how their tax dollars were being spent! But if one were to speak about nonofficial contacts, contacts between individuals, NGOs, etc., is there any reason to be more optimistic? another words, the traitors the CIA is paying off, and the subversive organizations that are funded by American tax dollars are still nodding and smiling in the direction of the embassy. Now theres a surprise.
Stewart: Yes, I am more optimistic about the personal contacts. yes, the Cia's contacts in the region that haven't been convicted of treason are still pretty friendly. I think they are really the basis for the long-term development of relations between our countries. Karen is hoping that these guys can come to power because frankly, it is really hard to have a good relationship with an administration that you have recently tried to subversively put out of power. The embassy encourages contacts between individuals and between organizations as much as we can through our exchange programs, through our cultural events, through our support for nongovernmental organizations. how else are CIA operatives supposed to recruit and maintain our contacts. But there are also a number of private American organizations who are active in Belarus in humanitarian assistance with Chernobyl children or even just privately visiting and that's also a wonderful way to build up understanding between our two peoples. yes, Chernobyl was a catastrophic tragedy, and every opportunity is taken to send spies to the region under the cover or humanitarian aid workers, ministers, or any other non-spook sounding job description.
RFE/RL: You've articulated the U.S. position regarding the crisis that erupted between Belarus and Russia over gas prices by saying that: countries should not use their energy resources as political weapons in international relations. now lets be clear, we have used actual weapons to secure OUR energy, but when two great allies like Russia and Belarus are disagreeing over gas prices, and their strengths are therefore divided, this can't but help a criminal long term position. Belorussians lose money and political backup, the Russians lose political clout with their best friend, Washington couldn't have dreamed up a better scenario than that! We hear that there will be negative consequences for Belarus as a result of the increase in energy costs. What positive effects might ensue from Belarus having to contend with higher gas and oil prices? the state department couldn't be happier that Russian greed has harmed the economy of Belarus, but notice attempts to try to sugar coat the actual opinion. the actually make believe that a free market economy and corporate greed will help Belarus.
Stewart: You've accurately noted that the U.S. government is opposed to using energy as a political lever against other countries. Mikes vacation would like to know how many vodka shots were needed to say that with a straight face! America just invaded Iraq for the purpose of mugging their oil from them! An entire country has been destroyed, hundreds of thousands killed, wounded, imprisoned and tortured. Seriously, were you smoking crack before this "interview"? But economically the best result is when countries are buying and selling resources at world prices as long as the adjustment to those world prices was phased in over time. does that mean you advocate the repletion of import tariffs for cars coming into the U.S.? does this also mean you are against any u.s. farm subsidy? this is a modern version of Reaganomics, it didn't work in the 80s and it isn't valid now. When you have a new country with limited cash reserves, how can drastically increased fuel prices help the people? If the increase in gas prices were "phased in" over 30 years, maybe this wouldn't have been so painful. there are somethings more important than just a corporate bottom line. like the lives of the general public! The advantages to Belarus of being on the open market for energy prices are increased efficiency, just exactly how much wasting of energy is going on right now! it will be an incentive to conserve energy, again, just where and what energy is wasted in BELARUS! [and] it will be an incentive to diversify sources of energy. Also, as industries in Belarus have to operate without subsidies, Belarus can see which industries have the most competitive advantages, ANOTHER WORDS, THIS MAY HELP TO ECONOMICALLY CRIPPLE CERTAIN COMPANIES THAT CAN BE PICKED UP FOR A SONG BY RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS OR EUROPEAN CONGLOMERATES. where investment should be, and I hope that would also lead to the government adopting policies that would make Belarus more attractive for foreign investors. NOW THAT RUSSIA IS NOT STICKING UP FOR BELARUS SO MUCH, WASHINGTON WILL ATTEMPT TO BULLY THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE! WHY THE HELL SHOULD BELARUS WANT TO ALLOW INVESTORS INTO ITS MOST PROFITABLE AND SURVIVABLE COMPANIES? BY DEFINITION, IF A COMPANY IS GOOD, BELORUSSIANS SHOULD WANT TO NOT SHARE ITS OWNERSHIP WITH ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES! FOREIGN INVESTORS DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY, THEY ONLY WANT TO BUY INTO COMPANIES THAT HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL FOR PROFIT AND EXPANSION. WHY SHOULD THESE SAME COMPANIES NEED WESTERN PARTNERS IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO FAIR CONDITIONS IN WESTERN MARKETS!!
RFE/RL: The mandate of the Belarus Democracy Act was recently extended. What will this mean for the democratic community of Belarus as a result of this? [The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 is designed to promote democratic development, human rights, and the rule of law in Belarus, as well as encourage the consolidation and strengthening of Belarus sovereignty and independence.] Among other things, the Belarus democracy act means that the hard earned money from the American taxpayer will be used to subversively fund political parties that are friendly to Washington, and this same money will also be used to fund "media" interests in Belarus that will agree with Washington, and slander the Lukashenka Administration and ATTACK socialism in general. As Belarus clearly enjoys the "rule of law" already, the CIA intends to help persons breaking Belorussian laws to get sympathetic press coverage and lighter prison sentences as long as the laws being broken were done so at the encouragement of a CIA handler, or their equivalent. It is therefor OK for us to promote treason, espionage, bribery, rioting, slander, and ultimately revolution. By sovereignty and independence, Washington actually means a puppet government that will go along with whatever scheme Washington cooks up.
Stewart: American legislation can be very confusing. The Belarus Democracy Act does not actually appropriate additional resources for assistance. But it does tell us where [the U.S.] Congress thinks it's important to use our assistance. revolutions, demonstrations, spies, spooks, propaganda radio, its all good. And so the executive branch of the U.S. government, as we decide where to allocate assistance on a very tight budget year, we know that Congress thinks it's very important to continue to support democratic development in Belarus and that has meant that we have maintained the same level of assistance when other countries were being cut. so even though Lukashenka won the election, the state department and the CIA will continue to harass him, and to try to stir up trouble in Belarus. So the act tells us it's important to continue assistance to political party development, to civil society, and independent media. again, that means potential puppet politicians, laws that benefit us, and any media that will not print bad news about America!
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/4/66C6B0D9-A39F-4130-A3B4-D4D52FE5F77D.html
Back again in Minsk since September 2006, she talks to RFE/RL's Belarus Service about Belarus political prisoners and the country's chance to embrace economic reform.
FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE THE READER TO NOTICE THERE IS NO REPORTER OR JOURNALIST OF RECORD NAMED FOR THIS ARTICLE.
PERHAPS THIS MEANS THERE IS NO SINGLE JOURNALIST OR REPORTER CREATING THESE QUESTIONS. IT IS OBVIOUS THE "QUESTIONS" ARE MERELY RFE/RL SIMPLY DOING WHAT IT WAS TASKED TO DO, THAT IS PUBLICIZE PROPAGANDA THAT WAS WRITTEN IN WASHINGTON TO SERVE THE BENEFIT OF WASHINGTON AND THE BIG MONEY THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS IT.
I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THAT AN "INTERVIEW" HAS NOT ACTUALLY BEEN CONDUCTED HERE. RATHER RFE/RL IS SIMPLY ASKING KAREN STEWART SOME PRE-FABRICATED QUESTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE PRE-DETERMINED RESPONSES.
ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT RFE/RL HAS CAREFULLY ENCLOSED MULTIPLE "STATEMENTS" INSIDE THEIR QUESTIONS. AS KAREN STEWART ANSWERS HER "QUESTIONS" THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S POSITION WAS PRE-VALIDATED BY THE ACTUAL "STATEMENT" THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF EACH "QUESTION" WATCH AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN.
RFE/RL: The U.S. government has numerous times called on the Belorussian authorities to release prisoners of conscience. Have you met with any prisoners of conscience in Belarus or their families? If so, what impression did these meetings leave you with?
BELARUS HAS NO PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE. BELARUS DOES HAVE PERSONS INCARCERATED THAT HAVE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS IN ESPIONAGE, AND TREASON BY THE CIA AND ITS OPERATIVES. RFE/RL IS VERY INTERESTED IN IMPLYING BELORUSSIAN GUILT AT THE ONSET OF THIS INTERVIEW.
Karen Stewart: You've touched on one of the issues that are most important for my embassy and for my government -- seeking the release of political prisoners. Belarus has no political prisoners, but there are some traitors imprisoned, traitors that have taken instruction from their CIA handlers in how to start riots and revolutions. By our count, we're up to 11 Belorussians who are in prison or otherwise detained on politically motivated charges. how many political prisoners has the U.S. held without trial or justice in Cuba and Iraq? I have met a couple of these gentleman and have met several who were previously in prison and are now released and I've had a couple of occasions to meet with the families, to bring the families together, including a Christmas party last December. when will the Christmas party be for all of the prisoners in Guantanamo, will you Karen Stewart be willing to meet with their families like you have met with the families of the Belorussian "political prisoners"/traitors? All of us at the embassy are so impressed by the courage of the political prisoners and by the courage of their families who have to wait and watch and suffer for these years, analogous crimes in America would have brought life sentences. waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.
'It's important to continue assistance to political-party development, to civil society, and independent media.' What Karen Stewart means is that the CIA and the state department will continue to give money to any political party that will benefit them, but is it legal for foreign governments to help small political parties in America come to power? And the independent media she speaks of is only media that will give favorable coverage OF America. Will the State Department give money to an "independent" media that supports Alexander Lukashenka? It would be very possible for Lukashenka to have many supporters who would like to receive financial assistance in their private media endeavors. How much will the State Department give to these media outlets that criticize Washington?
RFE/RL: Summing up U.S.-Belarusian relations in 2006, you noted that, on an official level, there was very little positive to report. it is obvious that Washington sees nothing positive to report, they tried to start a revolution in a peaceful country, and failed! If they were to report too much the general public back home in America would ultimately realize how their tax dollars were being spent! But if one were to speak about nonofficial contacts, contacts between individuals, NGOs, etc., is there any reason to be more optimistic? another words, the traitors the CIA is paying off, and the subversive organizations that are funded by American tax dollars are still nodding and smiling in the direction of the embassy. Now theres a surprise.
Stewart: Yes, I am more optimistic about the personal contacts. yes, the Cia's contacts in the region that haven't been convicted of treason are still pretty friendly. I think they are really the basis for the long-term development of relations between our countries. Karen is hoping that these guys can come to power because frankly, it is really hard to have a good relationship with an administration that you have recently tried to subversively put out of power. The embassy encourages contacts between individuals and between organizations as much as we can through our exchange programs, through our cultural events, through our support for nongovernmental organizations. how else are CIA operatives supposed to recruit and maintain our contacts. But there are also a number of private American organizations who are active in Belarus in humanitarian assistance with Chernobyl children or even just privately visiting and that's also a wonderful way to build up understanding between our two peoples. yes, Chernobyl was a catastrophic tragedy, and every opportunity is taken to send spies to the region under the cover or humanitarian aid workers, ministers, or any other non-spook sounding job description.
RFE/RL: You've articulated the U.S. position regarding the crisis that erupted between Belarus and Russia over gas prices by saying that: countries should not use their energy resources as political weapons in international relations. now lets be clear, we have used actual weapons to secure OUR energy, but when two great allies like Russia and Belarus are disagreeing over gas prices, and their strengths are therefore divided, this can't but help a criminal long term position. Belorussians lose money and political backup, the Russians lose political clout with their best friend, Washington couldn't have dreamed up a better scenario than that! We hear that there will be negative consequences for Belarus as a result of the increase in energy costs. What positive effects might ensue from Belarus having to contend with higher gas and oil prices? the state department couldn't be happier that Russian greed has harmed the economy of Belarus, but notice attempts to try to sugar coat the actual opinion. the actually make believe that a free market economy and corporate greed will help Belarus.
Stewart: You've accurately noted that the U.S. government is opposed to using energy as a political lever against other countries. Mikes vacation would like to know how many vodka shots were needed to say that with a straight face! America just invaded Iraq for the purpose of mugging their oil from them! An entire country has been destroyed, hundreds of thousands killed, wounded, imprisoned and tortured. Seriously, were you smoking crack before this "interview"? But economically the best result is when countries are buying and selling resources at world prices as long as the adjustment to those world prices was phased in over time. does that mean you advocate the repletion of import tariffs for cars coming into the U.S.? does this also mean you are against any u.s. farm subsidy? this is a modern version of Reaganomics, it didn't work in the 80s and it isn't valid now. When you have a new country with limited cash reserves, how can drastically increased fuel prices help the people? If the increase in gas prices were "phased in" over 30 years, maybe this wouldn't have been so painful. there are somethings more important than just a corporate bottom line. like the lives of the general public! The advantages to Belarus of being on the open market for energy prices are increased efficiency, just exactly how much wasting of energy is going on right now! it will be an incentive to conserve energy, again, just where and what energy is wasted in BELARUS! [and] it will be an incentive to diversify sources of energy. Also, as industries in Belarus have to operate without subsidies, Belarus can see which industries have the most competitive advantages, ANOTHER WORDS, THIS MAY HELP TO ECONOMICALLY CRIPPLE CERTAIN COMPANIES THAT CAN BE PICKED UP FOR A SONG BY RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS OR EUROPEAN CONGLOMERATES. where investment should be, and I hope that would also lead to the government adopting policies that would make Belarus more attractive for foreign investors. NOW THAT RUSSIA IS NOT STICKING UP FOR BELARUS SO MUCH, WASHINGTON WILL ATTEMPT TO BULLY THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE! WHY THE HELL SHOULD BELARUS WANT TO ALLOW INVESTORS INTO ITS MOST PROFITABLE AND SURVIVABLE COMPANIES? BY DEFINITION, IF A COMPANY IS GOOD, BELORUSSIANS SHOULD WANT TO NOT SHARE ITS OWNERSHIP WITH ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES! FOREIGN INVESTORS DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY, THEY ONLY WANT TO BUY INTO COMPANIES THAT HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL FOR PROFIT AND EXPANSION. WHY SHOULD THESE SAME COMPANIES NEED WESTERN PARTNERS IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO FAIR CONDITIONS IN WESTERN MARKETS!!
RFE/RL: The mandate of the Belarus Democracy Act was recently extended. What will this mean for the democratic community of Belarus as a result of this? [The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 is designed to promote democratic development, human rights, and the rule of law in Belarus, as well as encourage the consolidation and strengthening of Belarus sovereignty and independence.] Among other things, the Belarus democracy act means that the hard earned money from the American taxpayer will be used to subversively fund political parties that are friendly to Washington, and this same money will also be used to fund "media" interests in Belarus that will agree with Washington, and slander the Lukashenka Administration and ATTACK socialism in general. As Belarus clearly enjoys the "rule of law" already, the CIA intends to help persons breaking Belorussian laws to get sympathetic press coverage and lighter prison sentences as long as the laws being broken were done so at the encouragement of a CIA handler, or their equivalent. It is therefor OK for us to promote treason, espionage, bribery, rioting, slander, and ultimately revolution. By sovereignty and independence, Washington actually means a puppet government that will go along with whatever scheme Washington cooks up.
Stewart: American legislation can be very confusing. The Belarus Democracy Act does not actually appropriate additional resources for assistance. But it does tell us where [the U.S.] Congress thinks it's important to use our assistance. revolutions, demonstrations, spies, spooks, propaganda radio, its all good. And so the executive branch of the U.S. government, as we decide where to allocate assistance on a very tight budget year, we know that Congress thinks it's very important to continue to support democratic development in Belarus and that has meant that we have maintained the same level of assistance when other countries were being cut. so even though Lukashenka won the election, the state department and the CIA will continue to harass him, and to try to stir up trouble in Belarus. So the act tells us it's important to continue assistance to political party development, to civil society, and independent media. again, that means potential puppet politicians, laws that benefit us, and any media that will not print bad news about America!
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/4/66C6B0D9-A39F-4130-A3B4-D4D52FE5F77D.html
NEW METHOD FOR EDITORIALS
GREETINGS READERS,
MIKE'S VACATION WILL BE USING A NEW METHOD OF ANALYZING PROPAGANDA GENERATED AND SUPPORTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENTS AND AFFILIATES.
WE WILL BE REPRINTING ARTICLES IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND INSERTING OUR EDITORIAL COMMENTS IN BOLD RED LETTERS INTO THE SAME ARTICLE.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE READER TO SEE THE EXACT ARTICLE BEING REFERENCED, AND TO SEE A WORD FOR WORD RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE FROM MIKE'S VACATION
WE HOPE THIS NEW FORMAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER,
SINCERELY, MICHAEL MILLER
INDIANAPOLIS,
2007
MIKE'S VACATION WILL BE USING A NEW METHOD OF ANALYZING PROPAGANDA GENERATED AND SUPPORTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENTS AND AFFILIATES.
WE WILL BE REPRINTING ARTICLES IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND INSERTING OUR EDITORIAL COMMENTS IN BOLD RED LETTERS INTO THE SAME ARTICLE.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE READER TO SEE THE EXACT ARTICLE BEING REFERENCED, AND TO SEE A WORD FOR WORD RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE FROM MIKE'S VACATION
WE HOPE THIS NEW FORMAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER,
SINCERELY, MICHAEL MILLER
INDIANAPOLIS,
2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
THE CHO TAPES SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOREVER KEPT A SECRET!!
All of America, and proably most of the world is aware of the trajic mass murder that has occurred recently at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Virginia.
This sad event was our nations largest mass murder.
Today NBC received a package from Cho himself, containing a video and written statement that has been called his "manifesto".
NBC immediately turned this evidence over to the FBI.
Our entire nation has been watching this tape this evening, and it is the opinion of Mikes Vacation that this is a graven mistake on the part of NBC and the FBI.
It is extremely poor judgement on the part of NBC and the FBI to allow even the mere existence of this material to become known to the American public.
Americans have a right to know what is going on in their country, however this evidence from the killer Cho will do nothing to help his victims achieve justice or their families find closure.
It is the opinion of Mikes Vacation that this material could serve to motivate other unhappy and mentally ill individuals to now videotape "manifestos" and commit copycat style crimes.
Mikes Vacation believes that the combination of this incident being the largest mass murder in United States history, and simultaneously having a nationally broadcast "manifesto" is a terribly dangerous cocktail.
This lethal combination of potentially glamorizing Cho's crimes to tens of thousands of mentally imbalanced and unhappy individuals in America by allowing them to watch what undoubtedly will be hundreds of hours of national television discussing this crime, has the POTENTIAL of inspiring them to commit similar crimes in hopes of being nationally known themselves.
It is very rare that Mikes Vacation would support the United States government and a large corporation in a purposful act of repressing information from the general public, however in this case to do anyting but just that, has simply put the American public at risk for a similar attack, without the potential for any redeeming benefit to them.
I am not a law enforcement official, or a forensic psycologist, but I find it intuitively obvious that this "manifesto" should have been reserved for the FBI mindhunter division, and even its very existence should have been classified.
Michael Miller
Indianapolis, 2007
This sad event was our nations largest mass murder.
Today NBC received a package from Cho himself, containing a video and written statement that has been called his "manifesto".
NBC immediately turned this evidence over to the FBI.
Our entire nation has been watching this tape this evening, and it is the opinion of Mikes Vacation that this is a graven mistake on the part of NBC and the FBI.
It is extremely poor judgement on the part of NBC and the FBI to allow even the mere existence of this material to become known to the American public.
Americans have a right to know what is going on in their country, however this evidence from the killer Cho will do nothing to help his victims achieve justice or their families find closure.
It is the opinion of Mikes Vacation that this material could serve to motivate other unhappy and mentally ill individuals to now videotape "manifestos" and commit copycat style crimes.
Mikes Vacation believes that the combination of this incident being the largest mass murder in United States history, and simultaneously having a nationally broadcast "manifesto" is a terribly dangerous cocktail.
This lethal combination of potentially glamorizing Cho's crimes to tens of thousands of mentally imbalanced and unhappy individuals in America by allowing them to watch what undoubtedly will be hundreds of hours of national television discussing this crime, has the POTENTIAL of inspiring them to commit similar crimes in hopes of being nationally known themselves.
It is very rare that Mikes Vacation would support the United States government and a large corporation in a purposful act of repressing information from the general public, however in this case to do anyting but just that, has simply put the American public at risk for a similar attack, without the potential for any redeeming benefit to them.
I am not a law enforcement official, or a forensic psycologist, but I find it intuitively obvious that this "manifesto" should have been reserved for the FBI mindhunter division, and even its very existence should have been classified.
Michael Miller
Indianapolis, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
THE RUSSIAN AUSCHWITZ EXHIBIT SHOULD ACCURATELY REFLECT THE RUSSIAN SOUL AND CONSCIENCE
The width, breadth, and depth of the trajedies that occurred at Auschwitz were so numerous and of such a vile nature, that no memorial park run by any country will ever begin to assist the victims in achieving any real measure or justice or closure. How can a murder victim receive justice? How can millions of victims receive justice?
Excecuting some high level war criminals in Nurnberg was proably better than nothing, but how do a few swinging nazis make up for all the damage done?
The sad and insidious truth about genocide is that when only a few class A war criminals can be ultimately excecuted, there is no real justice that can ever be achieved in any post genocide venue.
Genocides must be PREVENTED! Because, obviously there is no manner of redress after the fact that is even microscopicly equitable to its victims.
The goal of preserving an Auschwitz memorial should be to assist future generations with PREVENTING analagous trajedies from happening and to preserve the historical integrity of the physical premises so it will not be destroyed by time enabling it to educate and motivate our descendents to recognize potential genocide precursors and remember what such genocides look like in real life, or as close to real life as possible.
It is not correct for Poland to use its current custodial perogitives over the Auschwitz Trajedy Memorial to "sensor" or "frusterate" the Russian people's collective consciences from being expressed within the Russian exhibit of this international memoral park.
Nazi objectives were not only to murder Jews, but to expand the German state to include "slavic" or "Soviet Lands". (Libensraum=Living Room)
While it is undeniable that Jews were the main minority group targeted by Nazis, it is also true that robbing and murdering Jews was far from the only criminal goal of the Third Reich.
Any historian will acknowledge that while millions of Jews died in concentration camps, if were not for "soviet" soldiers, all slavs both eastern and western would have had a fate under Nazi control, that any citizen of today would term either "murder or slavery".
Nazi attrocities and crimes were partially enabled by an enviroment of political and artistic CENSORSHIP. (enforced by coersion, torture, and murder)
The Russians have paid with their blood for the right to dsiplay an Auschwitz exhibit without it being "edited" or "CENSORED" by Polish authorities.
If the Russians choose to remember the Auschwitz victims as "Soviet Citizens", then this is their perogitive, and it is unprofessional of the Polish authorities to attempt to obstruct the Russians in their choice of words.
The Auschwitz memorial should be visited and studied for time immortal so that future generations can learn about the results of unbridled human cruelty.
It is possible that many different countries, Russia and Poland included, may choose to alter the wording on their exibits at Auschwitz and other Genocide memorial sites. This should be accepted as a soverign right of any state that has shed blood winning WW2/The Patriotic War.
Polish censorship of Russian political opinions at Auschwitz is not going to help prevent a future genocide, and it will not add any justice or closure to the memory of Auschwitz victims.
Michael Miller
Excecuting some high level war criminals in Nurnberg was proably better than nothing, but how do a few swinging nazis make up for all the damage done?
The sad and insidious truth about genocide is that when only a few class A war criminals can be ultimately excecuted, there is no real justice that can ever be achieved in any post genocide venue.
Genocides must be PREVENTED! Because, obviously there is no manner of redress after the fact that is even microscopicly equitable to its victims.
The goal of preserving an Auschwitz memorial should be to assist future generations with PREVENTING analagous trajedies from happening and to preserve the historical integrity of the physical premises so it will not be destroyed by time enabling it to educate and motivate our descendents to recognize potential genocide precursors and remember what such genocides look like in real life, or as close to real life as possible.
It is not correct for Poland to use its current custodial perogitives over the Auschwitz Trajedy Memorial to "sensor" or "frusterate" the Russian people's collective consciences from being expressed within the Russian exhibit of this international memoral park.
Nazi objectives were not only to murder Jews, but to expand the German state to include "slavic" or "Soviet Lands". (Libensraum=Living Room)
While it is undeniable that Jews were the main minority group targeted by Nazis, it is also true that robbing and murdering Jews was far from the only criminal goal of the Third Reich.
Any historian will acknowledge that while millions of Jews died in concentration camps, if were not for "soviet" soldiers, all slavs both eastern and western would have had a fate under Nazi control, that any citizen of today would term either "murder or slavery".
Nazi attrocities and crimes were partially enabled by an enviroment of political and artistic CENSORSHIP. (enforced by coersion, torture, and murder)
The Russians have paid with their blood for the right to dsiplay an Auschwitz exhibit without it being "edited" or "CENSORED" by Polish authorities.
If the Russians choose to remember the Auschwitz victims as "Soviet Citizens", then this is their perogitive, and it is unprofessional of the Polish authorities to attempt to obstruct the Russians in their choice of words.
The Auschwitz memorial should be visited and studied for time immortal so that future generations can learn about the results of unbridled human cruelty.
It is possible that many different countries, Russia and Poland included, may choose to alter the wording on their exibits at Auschwitz and other Genocide memorial sites. This should be accepted as a soverign right of any state that has shed blood winning WW2/The Patriotic War.
Polish censorship of Russian political opinions at Auschwitz is not going to help prevent a future genocide, and it will not add any justice or closure to the memory of Auschwitz victims.
Michael Miller
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