AntiFreeze's Journal: Quick Political Scholastic Aptitude Test:

I received the following in an email earlier today. Discuss.

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Quick Political Scholastic Aptitude Test:

This test consists of one (1) multiple-choice question (so you better get it right!) based on the following list of countries that the U.S. has bombed since the end of World War II, compiled by historian William Blum:

China 1945-46,
Korea 1950-53,
China 1950-53,
Guatemala 1954,
Indonesia 1958,
Cuba 1959-60,
Guatemala 1960,
Congo 1964,
Peru 1965,
Laos 1964-73,
Vietnam 1961-73,
Cambodia 1969-70,
Guatemala 1967-69,
Grenada 1983,
Libya 1986,
El Salvador 1980,
Nicaragua 1980,
Panama 1989,
Iraq 1991-99,
Sudan 1998,
Afghanistan 1998 & 2001-2002,
Yugoslavia 1999

In how many of these instances did a democratic government, respectful of human rights, occur as a direct result?

Choose one of the following:
(a) 0
(b) zero
(c) none
(d) not a one
(e) a whole number between -1 and +1

This quiz compliments of Vietnam Veterans Against the War

Quick follow-up question

[Chacham]

In how many of these places was the US trying to setup a democracy?

Re:Quick follow-up question

[GMontag]

In addition to what On Lawn said:

Taiwan, Republic of China is a democratic republic now.

Cuba 1959-60, Still Communist because we faild to liberate it.

Peru 1965, a Democratic Republic now, free markets introduced by a right-leaning military government that relinquished power after defeating Communists.

Vietnam 1961-73, Failed to liberate it, so it is now Communist

Cambodia 1969-70, Did not bother trying to liberate, see war protestors of Viet Nam as to why.

Grenada 1983, Democratic Republic now. Defea

The answer is two and a half

[On Lawn]

Panama is now as good a Democracy as any in Central America. Afghanistan elected Hermid Karzi, and the parlaiment and they are at least on a good start. And South Korea came from the Korean War you mentioned is probably the best of the three as far as democracy and human rights respect, but they are all doing a much improved job of it.

Now a direct result is kind of wierd to say becuase each of those required some occupation force besides air warfare. If you are saying that bombing doesn't make someone more

Hrrrm

[cyranoVR]

I always figured that the point of bombing enemies was to kill the enemy soldiers and destroy their equipment, not "instill democracy."

Also, consider this: how many of those countries are now communist dictatorships aligned against the United States? Slightly more than there are democracies, but far FAR less that if we had done nothing in the last 60 odd years.