Reagan - Celebrating an American Traitor

The current media hype surrounding the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth would be annoying all on its own merit, were it just another scene in the national tragedy of ignorance perpetrated by "conservatives" in the United States. Since he left office in 1988, the GOP and self-styled "conservatives" have been desperately attempting to foist the myth of "Reaganism" upon the nation, whether it be putting his image on currency, adding him to Mount Rushmore (seriously?), or naming schools and buildings after him, such as the cynical renaming of Washington National Airport. GOP hopefuls fall over each other in efforts to claim the Reagan mantle, while pundits and politicos bastardize Lloyd Bentsen's famous Kennedy remark by commenting that so-and-so is "no Reagan." This is typical propaganda and manipulation of opinion that is expected from political parties, given that each strives for power over rivals. Myths and demigods are important tools in propaganda.

As expected as this is, the efforts to deify Reagan are troublesome because his popularity defies reason and directly contradicts the alleged values that Americans pretend to hold dear. Namely, freedom, democracy, self-autonomy, free speech, etc. Thanks to a years-long effort by rightwing conservatives to lay the foundation, many people now point to Reagan as a champion and "great" American. This despite not being able to cite (never mind articulate) much more than iconic moments such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the "off-mic" comments that 'bombing will commence in five minutes,' other Reagan's sound-bytes about big government, or "there you go again." He was good at quips, I'll give him that.

I have asked many "Reaganites" what was great about him. Most cite his being against taxes (he raised them in 6 of his 8 years), his bringing down the Berlin wall (even his own cabinet didn't believe this nonsense), or his liberation of the Iran hostages (he actually worked behind the scenes to delay their release until he took office and could claim credit). While some may deny agreeing with his politics they invariably fall back to the line, "but he was a good man."

So I have to ask, why was he a good man? What makes someone good? Is it the words they speak, or the actions they take? Let's take a look at Reagan's "goodness." For the sake of brevity, I'm only going to focus on his foreign policies.

A good man?

- The Iran-Contra Affair: In clear and direct violation of United States law, without the knowledge or consent of the US Congress, Reagan authorized the illegal sale of weapons to Iran so that the administration could finance the illegal support of the Nicaraguan "Contras." But this was a "just" fight against Communists, right? Wrong.

The Contras were rightwing terrorists organized to overthrow the democratically-elected government of the Sandanistas (who had finally rid themselves of their brutal US-puppet dictator, Anastasio Somoza) and replace it with another pro-US puppet regime. The US-backed Contras waged a terrorist war against the Nicaraguan people that resulted in tens of thousands being raped, tortured and killed. That's tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians. When the Sandanistas eventually agreed to a ceasefire with the Contras, the latter continued to violate the ceasefire. This was standard operating procedure for the US, which does not readily accept defeat, especially via a ballot box.

- Guatamala, El Salvador, Honduras: Under Reagan's authority, the US military conducted terrorist operations in these countries where air missions slaughtered anything that moved. They trained, financed and supplied paramilitary groups who murdered priests, union leaders, teachers, including of course - women and children. Reagan backed brutal dictatorships in these countries (under the guise of fighting Communism) for years, with a death toll over 200,000 men, women and children. In 1999 the United Nations determined that the slaughter in Guatamala was genocide. As is often the case, international law means nothing if it contradicts US policy. And again - these were Reagan's policies.

- Iraq: Reagan's administration (under his authority, mind you) sold chemical and biological weapons to Saddam Hussein. Despite the rightwing effort to ignore this fact during Bush II's war against Iraq, it remains a fact. Reagan authorized the sale of Weapons of Mass Destruction to a brutal dictator. The final chapter of blowback from this policy has still not been played out.

- Osama bin Laden: It was the Reagan administration who provided funding to Osama bin Laden in the fight against the Russians in Afghanistan. Now? Blowback is a bitch, ain't it? Are you sensing a trend here, America? Starting to catch on? No? Then I shall summarize for you:

Reagan = terrorism, anti-democracy, genocide, treason, torture, rape.

What makes someone good? Is it the words they speak, or the actions they take? Does knowing that women and children are being raped, tortured and killed, yet still illegally financing and supplying the murderers, sound like an example of someone who is "good?" He could have chosen not to implement such a policy. HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of human beings were slaughtered, thanks to Reagan.

Now, about his admirers. What does it say about Americans (and America) that Reagan is called great? Hypocrisy doesn't begin to describe it. Selfish? Racist? The deaths of non-whites has rarely bothered most Americans. Maybe these people have simply been duped, and don't realize what Reagan did? Sorry, no excuse because they've been told many times. The problem is that they choose to ignore it, preferring instead to fall into the GOP vs. Democrat game as if all that really matters is supporting the home team so they can defeat their cross-town rival. Stupidity? I think that's a given, but I'll go further and say that people who idolize Reagan (even slightly) are craven cowards who haven't an ounce of morality in their bones.

When I was young we were taught how the Soviet people were constantly lied to by their government. Yet here in America, despite a deep mistrust of government, Americans will puff up their chests and get defensive should anyone accuse the government of lying. On go the blinders, the ears are plugged up solid, and no argument on earth is going to sway them.

Still, I ask - if Reagan was great, what does that say about Americans? Americans who proudly revere a man who authorized genocide, torture, rape, and who violated the US Constitution in order to pursue his administration's agenda? If you commit terrorist acts, you are a terrorist. If you support terrorists, you are a terrorist as well.

Since 2001, have you ever asked "why do they hate us so?" when the topics of terrorism, al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Iraq, Iran, etc., come up? Do you honestly believe the bullshit about them "hating our freedoms?" Are you really that obtuse? When people hate the US, it is because of policies such as Reagan's - policies that result in the death and oppression of others. They hate us because Americans think that Reagan was a "great American" or "a good man." They hate us because Americans are so damned smugly hypocritical as they wallow in their ignorance. They hate us because "rule of law" means nothing when Americans refuse to hold our worst criminals responsible. They hate us because when hundreds of thousands of human beings are slaughtered, Americans ignorantly applaud.

There is nothing "great" about what Reagan did, and there was nothing "good" about the man. Everyone is a function of what we do. Given his acts as President, there should be only one conclusion about Reagan.

He was a terrorist. He was a traitor. His impact was one of death and destruction. Genocide. Rape. Torture. Death. Destruction. He should have been imprisoned, at the least.

Americans who admire this criminal should be ashamed to call themselves Americans. That they have no shame, is the true legacy of Reagan.

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Drake on the move.