Rice: Belarus is 'dictatorship'

[seemslikeadream]

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Posted: 1243 GMT (2043 HKT)


Rice did not mention Lukashenko (above) by name.

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has denied that the Bush administration's policy of promoting freedom and democracy around the world is aimed at "fomenting revolution" but praised efforts by people in other countries to "throw off the yoke of tyranny."

In an interview Wednesday with CNN, Rice took aim at the leadership of Belarus, a former Soviet republic that is now an independent country.

While not naming Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Rice called Belarus "truly still the last remaining true dictatorship in the heart of Europe" and said she would hope "that you would begin to see some democratic development" in that country. (Full interview)

Rice added "if it brings about democratic progress, why is it a bad thing for people to throw off the yoke of tyranny and decide they want to control their own futures?"
more
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/20/rice.belarus/

[Dhalgren]

1. Wow, that Condi, she sure is a diplomat, ain't she...

[seemslikeadream]

6. Well she is very happy with Mr. Congeniality Bolton

:shrug:

[saigon68]

17. LOVE THIS EXPRESSION

SCARES THE HELL OUT OF TABBY CATS, SERIAL KILLERS AND LITTLE CHILDREN

[hippiechick]

2. ... and let me guess ... there's OIL under Belarus ?

Or the country is strategically situated along the proposed pipeline ?

:mad: I'd like to slap that witch silly.

on edit: We have SO got to use this quote against the GOP/fundie mind control team: "Rice added "if it brings about democratic progress, why is it a bad thing for people to throw off the yoke of tyranny and decide they want to control their own futures?"

[tanyev]

3. Good question, Condi.

"why is it a bad thing for people to throw off the yoke of tyranny and decide they want to control their own futures?"

I'll be waiting for your answer.

[Igel]

4. Broken clock.

She's right, of course: Belorus is a dictatorship. Stalinist in stripe. That makes Lukashenko is a dictator. He can't even bring himself to permit deviation from the Stalin-era orthography law.

[RubyDuby in GA]

5. Well that's rich!

If you just substitute a couple of words there, it's because even more true:

Rubyduby say The United States is "truly still the last remaining true dictatorship in the heart of the World" and said Rubyduby would hope "that you would begin to see some democratic development" in that country.

Just once I'd like to find a Republican that isn't the biggest friggin' hypocrite in the world!

[Solly Mack]

8. If you do find that mythical beast

please let me know! :)

I've never seen one either.

[indepat]

7. If only the US could throw off the yoke of neoconism

[peacetalksforall]

9. Dictators look good compared to lying imperialist bulldozers. n/t

[CO Liberal]

10. CO Liberal: Rice is "Idiot"

:-)

[onehandle]

11. So invade. That's what we do, right?

By the way, when do we invade China?

[Toots]

12. Well Official US Policy is to "Bring Freedom around the world"

It is okay to invade a country just to "Liberate" the people. What are we waiting for? All you young Republicans better join the military and support Liberty throughout the world.. If you don't then I guess all the things you say about Iraq are not true.. If your reasoning is good for Iraq it is good for other counties as well.....Okay now mount up...

[Roland99]

13. Does Belarus have oil fields?

[LatePeriduct]

14. Condaliar Rice, let me guess who's next?

China and the socialist party right!!!!!

The cult has to install its theocracy there, of course.

Or would that be Syria this time...

[Flagg]

15. I'm sure the Belarussians are shaking....

with laughter.

[mcscajun]

16. Leading to the Quote of the Week...

‘We would not of course advocate what some people call regime change anywhere,’ Lavrov told reporters. ‘You cannot impose democracy from the outside.’

(Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that is.)

You know things have come to a pretty pass when the Russians need to speak to the world about democracy.