"We’ll Replace Regimes Elsewhere If Need Be" :: Charter'97 :: News

“We replaced regime in Afghanistan and will do it in Iraq too. If there arises a need, we will replace regimes in other countries,” – these phrases belong to the US analyst Joshua Muravchik of the Institute of International Politics in Washington, which he shared during the recent propagandistic tour in Eastern Europe. He assumes that war, waged against Baghdad is an anti-terrorist liberation war, within the framework of which the States plan to put the situation in Middle East back in order in compliance with the general values of the mankind.”

The main source of terrorism, notes Muravchik, isn’t at all about radical Islamism or ultra-right and ultra-left groups. “Instead, we have to change the very political climate in Middle East,” – says he. In his opinion, “we must be ready that it will take us some time, but the Cold War also lasted for quite a while”.

Next in turn after Iraq are Iran and Northern Korea. Although Teheran supports terrorists more actively than more self-reserved Iraq, Iran, in Muravchik’s view, leaves much hope for a peaceful change of the existing regime. There’s a split in their leadership, at least some room for opposition’s activities, plus the positive solution of replacing the Iraqi regime may significantly affect the situation in the near-by country. And then there will come Pyongyang’s turn.

Joshua Muravchik doesn’t take serious the assumptions, held by Germany, France and other countries that the UN inspection mission may help disarm the Iraqis. “There’s absolutely no chance for inspectors to disarm them,” – said he. Washington, he added, “acts in the interests of the whole civilization, unleashing this war against terrorism, while Paris, Berlin and Moscow are each pursuing exclusively their own selfish goals.