Serbia

In bitter cold of Serbia’s October, tens of thousands of defiant, men and women take to streets in protest. In unison they roar “He is finished.” They capture parliament building in a show of defiance. Outnumbered, police relinquish power to mob, standing idly by as young men and women storm building. Before long, millions of uncounted ballots from rigged elections are thrown down to people. They shower jubilant crowd like bursts of confetti. It is end of Slobodan Milosovec’s self-imposed tyrannical reign as president. It is dawn of democracy.

October, 2002— It is that exhilarating time of year—election time. Two years have passed since Serbian people’s non-violent resistance and country’s induction into free world. For a country that had fearlessly united with fire and fervor in face of a tyrant and demanded dignity, and had become a testament to oppressed of world—this was a time millions stilled to watch. What they would see this year would shock their very belief in promise of democracy. Voter turnout in Serbia is so low that elections are declared invalid.

Meanwhile…

In a related but completely dissimilar story in another part of world, one country holds a fairy-tale election with astoundingly perfect results. The citizens of this “utopia” would never miss an opportunity to vote for their beloved ruler. With adoration, and for some literally with their blood, millions of voters cast their ballots for man who evidently provides them with comforts worthy of such a show of appreciation. The man: Saddam Hussein.

Unquestionably, this most beloved of rulers is first ever to win one hundred percent of a country’s vote, making him ruler for another seven years. There are over eleven million eligible voters and every one of them voted for Saddam that day. The sick, limping, old, frail—all came. Saddam’s people insist vote was fair and accurate. Saddam Hussein was only candidate.

Without resorting to speculation, could it be that perhaps his being only contender played a role in his receiving one hundred percent of vote? It’s a far cry, but it just might be true. The Third Wave?

This is a bad time for democracy. It has shown us some of most absurd and unjust elections. So what has happened to “Third Wave?” The one political scientists and analysts have boasted about since fall of communism. The Third Wave of democratization that sweeps through world replacing oppression and tyranny with truth and justice. If anything, results of these absurd elections point to a new phenomenon—a wave of “half-done” democracy that is hurriedly being implemented without necessary foundations in place.

Increasingly, it seems that countries that so avidly promote democracy somehow expect it to exist in a vacuum. What results is a highly skeptical and distrustful population, driven to voting booths out of despondency or, as in case of Iraq, out of fear. But this is not true democracy; this is not true participation—the Third Wave so far is nothing more than an illusion.

Zimbabwe

Picture Robert Mugabe in his presidential palace talking defiantly to American ambassador on telephone: “No, we do not need American election monitors. Zimbabwe’s elections are free and fair. We don’t need advice from a country that can’t run its own elections.” He refers to Bush and Gore mess of 2000.

A nation at war with itself cannot stand. He speaks of American justice and points us to evil while he cuts deals with nuclear armed devils. A friend of al Qaeda, he is Commander-In-Chief of most powerful military force on planet earth and man we call President. I know this is true because I heard it on TV.

In November, 2001, just weeks after declaring war on global terrorism, President George Bush and Secretary Donald Rumsfeld assisted some 8,000 members of al Qaeda and their Pakistani trainers to escape Afghanistan. Three to four hundred members of U.S. Delta Force had terrorists surrounded, in their gun sights and can testify they were ordered not to engage.

This episode was reported on PBS program, NOW, with Bill Moyers, on February 21, 2003, by investigative reporter Seymour Hersh. The transcript is available from NOW/PBS Website.

If this report is correct: 1.The war on terrorism is a fraud. 2. President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld have provided aid and comfort to an enemy in wartime. This, I seem to recall, is definition of high treason, a capital crime for which both men should be executed when properly tried and convicted. 3. President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld should be immediately relieved of office by Congress. Until this matter is resolved and before another American life is lost in a phony war created to convince people to trade their liberty for security. Security that cannot be had at any price. Life carries risks that can only be minimized by personal choices, not police power. 4. If Congress refuses to act in this matter, leaving alleged traitors in a position to further destroy lives, they should all be recalled from office by States.

It is known to American government that Pakistan is a sponsor of and shield to terrorism. General Musharraf is likely a puppet of radical fundamentalists in Pakistan and elsewhere. The economic aid flowing to Pakistan by billions from American taxpayers, through a treasonous Congress, is used to support al Qaeda and to provide nuclear weapons to 3rd world powers like North Korea and probably al Qaeda as well. Pakistan is Capitol of evil and government says, “No, look over here, at Iraq, Iran and North Korea! Pakistan is our nuclear proliferating terrorist friend because we fear them and must support their secular strong man.”

Every member of U.S. Armed Forces has sworn an oath to defend U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Those members of Delta Force who leaked this story of presidential hypocrisy and treason have done their duty to America and their military brethren. I have no doubt more will come forward, if nothing happens to them, to confirm treason of November, 2001. When Commander-In-Chief is a traitor, soldier is in a very delicate position. He/she can be placed in harm’s way before testimony can be given. These witnesses need protection now. Should anything happen to them, we will know that treason has no limit.