Musallam al-Barrak, an outspoken former member of the Kuwaiti parliament, appears to have his answer. Al-Barrak appealed to Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (right) in a 2012 speech not to impose “autocratic rule.” He was later arrested and has now been sentenced to five years in jail.
Al-Barrak has been a critic of changes in election laws that he and other opposition leaders believe are barring them from assuming power. In 2012, he addressed the emir by saying: “In the name of the nation, in the name of the people, we will not let you, your Highness, practice autocratic rule.”
Our erstwhile ally then promptly put him under investigation and later house arrest. This is the country that we went to war to rescue from the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. After throwing out the Iraqis, President Bush declared “Kuwait is once more in the hands of the Kuwaitis, in control of their own destiny.” It seems that is clearly true . . . so long as they do not demand to actually determine their own destiny or ask for a free voice in stating what that destiny should be.
Source: Yahoo
I do know that Saddam took something our representative said, April I think was her name, as permission to invade Kuwait. I’ve listened to the tape, scratchy, and read the transcription. I didn’t get that impression, but Saddam apparently did, or said he did, and invaded.
If that happened now, there would be no war. We are fine with countries being invaded and taken over by another country.
In the years since 9/11 we’ve certainly learned a great deal about the Middle East. Nothing can be solved unless everyone wants to solve them. There are good people whose lives are a hell created by those who want to kill. Unaided, as they are, means miserable lives. I feel sorry for them and Crimeans and Ukrainians who believed we were on their side. I believed it too. We were all wrong. We are a different country now.
Very sad.
Jill,
I heard about that on my commute home this evening. It will be interesting to see how thoroughly the MSM will cover this story. This certainly seems to be part of the lawless culture in our entire justice system.
From today in The Guardian:
The Chicago police department operates an off-the-books interrogation compound, rendering Americans unable to be found by family or attorneys while locked inside what lawyers say is the domestic equivalent of a CIA black site.
The facility, a nondescript warehouse on Chicago’s west side known as Homan Square, has long been the scene of secretive work by special police units. Interviews with local attorneys and one protester who spent the better part of a day shackled in Homan Square describe operations that deny access to basic constitutional rights.
Alleged police practices at Homan Square, according to those familiar with the facility who spoke out to the Guardian after its investigation into Chicago police abuse, include:
Keeping arrestees out of official booking databases.
Beating by police, resulting in head wounds.
Shackling for prolonged periods.
Denying attorneys access to the “secure” facility.
Holding people without legal counsel for between 12 and 24 hours, including people as young as 15.
At least one man was found unresponsive in a Homan Square “interview room” and later pronounced dead.”
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/24/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-
Yes We Can!
That whole area has been in a state of flux composed of tribes sometimes fighting each other and sometimes getting along until the Ottoman Empire came apart and the British and French went in and as with Africa took out some colored pencils and straight edges and created countries. Most of the problems in these areas stem from the arrogance and ignorance of the British, French, and Belgians. Iraq a country with a 35% minority ruling a 65% majority-jeez who could have seen that coming? The same with the Tutsis and Hutus-Belgum is responsible for that. They armed the minorities to rule the majorities and then left.
It made sense a hundred years ago when you wanted to rule, set up a minority and they won’t be able to rebel because their only future is in ruling the majority that will wipe them out if they do. Clever colonialists. The only imbalance is that the US, a former colonialist in its own way, is suffering the lion’s share of the sh*t and abuse, oh yeah, the three stooges went back in to work a little colonial magic.
Bill McWilliams
Right…except for the part about Kuwait being a former Iraqi province, which it never was, and supporting both sides in the Iran/Iraq war, since Kuwait formally allied with Iraq.
When, in 1961, Kuwait declared independence from Great Britain (not Iraq), Iraq challenged this claiming Kuwait was rightfully part of Iraq, although it never had been
Sandi H,
You DO know that Saddam invaded Kuwait (which is, arguably, a rightful Province of Iraq) – because Kuwait had stolen oil from Iraq, and Saddam, as head of state, had an obligation to do stop the theft of Iraq’s national treasure, i.e. oil from the Ramallah oil field. Further, the U.S. gave Saddam its approval.
That was why he invaded, NOT because Kuwait is ruled by Pedophile Emirs.
You know this, right?
Like most Middle Eastern countries, the USA is only tolerated and used for their benefit.
Kinda makes you wonder why we collaberate w/S.Arabia AND izzuhrul – other than in covert false flag ops like 9-11 etc.
I hope we comment negatively. We did get their country back. Apparently democracy lost in Kuwait.
It’s depressing that we fought a war over there not too long ago, only for them to resume their old ways. Nation building from the outside, without the support of the people, doesn’t seem to work.
But the Middle East is not known for its human rights.
Jill, unfortunately evidence seems to support your view. Indeed, bankers and war profiteers are the two groups that flout the law, break the law, and never (never) get arrested.
Sad.
It would appear democracy and Islam are oil and water.
Olly, Our autocrat went straight to killing our citizens! Jailing them is too messy!
Really, I don’t understand how people believe it when our “leaders” say they want to support democracy around the world. These people are completely cynical. They will work with any powerful party to promote the wealth of bankers and arms dealers. That is the basis of our foreign policy.
Has our autocrat-in-chief jailed anyone yet? Obviously that is the red line that one shall not cross.
We don’t need autocrats in AmeriKa either. They came for the Dogologue Machine and we and our master pal had to flee with it. They went after BarkinDog when he was out on the road with his pal and he has not been heard from since. All we know is that they have the pal in some Barnes.
First they came for the dogs and you didn’t say anything because you weren’t a dog. Then…… who is next? Coming to a theatre near you.
Tent on the body!
Tent on the head!
Live in the desert!
Get what you dred!
—
Usually if you want to get rid of an autocrat you have to kill him/her. The best way is to make them walk the plank. Into the ocean if you are on the shore line or on the sea and into a large canyon if you are on land. Do not hang em, shoot em, electrocute em, gas em, or pump em with drugs. It is not as dignified as walking the plank. This way the ones who kill the astardBay are not denigrated by their method.
You do have to be careful what you ask for.