...but what kind of reply would have been better? You knew the answer when you asked.

"...say we are presently informed, illuminated, and evolving [with strength of conviction] away from such twists of inhuman malevolence & fascistic fundamentalism in the Western hemisphere?"

I'd say we have yet to play out the string and there is more to come. I do think that Americans and others living in "First World" countries have "evolved" away from it because our style of life no longer requires it in our own countries. I think the rest of the world has not "evolved" away from it yet and sure maybe our lives in our first world countries dictate that there be "practical leaders" that perhaps through policy and self interest sort of encourage the fact that the rest of the world does not "evolve" away from it and so we train and arm them and "let them do their thing."

And we play footsy with, you know, the ones that can afford a nice Armani suit and a private jet because...well, you know...they are fucking civilized and they like to play ball.

Let's look at Egypt (because they are in the news) as an example. So Mubarak falls and there are guys like Omar Suleiman lurking there behind him. Egypt has the worlds tenth largest army which is not an army built to fight a war but one built and trained to quell civil dissent and control their own populace. That in itself should tell you something about Egypt. Mubarak fell because the army would not back him when the populace began to protest...facebook and twitter my ass...so, it occurs to me more than a bunch of "peaceful college students with laptops and internet access" wanted Mubarak out but you know "college kids posting on facebook and twitter" sounds so much more civilized doesn't it? Egypt is a country where torture is not just condoned it is a business opportunity. Why do you suppose that is? Is it because the United States is evil and a bad place...no, it is because Egypt is run by a wealthy elite that is not at all "squeamish" about keeping the poor in their place with the worlds tenth largest army and guys like Suleiman who can find time in his busy slicker than whale shit globe trotting schedule to...you know...do some of the torturing himself.

Mubarak is now being fed to the sharks: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20110217govt_to_us_banks_after_mubarak_follow_the_money/

Who needs him right, and Omar (the guy known as the Torturer in Chief) Suleiman can you know, "oversee a peaceful transition"...ok, sure. I'm betting Omar does not take charge but it will be interesting to see where a guy with his...um...connections ends up.

“There are forces at work in any society, particularly one that is facing these kind of challenges, that will try to derail or overtake the process to pursue their own agenda, which is why I think it’s important to follow the transition process announced by the Egyptian government, actually headed by vice-president Omar Suleiman."- Hillary Clinton (following an assassination attempt on Suleiman) 2/5/11

Cuz, ya know our boy Omar gets it, man, he understands how the world works...he can cite the numbers on how much cash Egypt bleeds in a day due to loss of tourism ($310 million per day or more) because of this "revolution" and jet around cutting deals to torture folks for other countries and even doing some of the dirty work himself because...hey, man...he ain't squeamish!

So, Mubarak is the lamb...or the tethered goat but who is Omar Suleiman?

"In 2009, he was touted by the London Telegraph and Foreign Policy as the most powerful spook in the region, topping even the head of Mossad."

"In the mid-1990s, Suleiman worked closely with the Clinton administration in devising and implementing its rendition program; back then, rendition involved kidnapping suspected terrorists and transferring them to a third country for trial."

"Each rendition was authorized at the very top levels of both governments [the US and Egypt] ... The long-serving chief of the Egyptian central intelligence agency, Omar Suleiman, negotiated directly with top [CIA] officials. [Former US Ambassador to Egypt Edward] Walker described the Egyptian counterpart, Suleiman, as 'very bright, very realistic', adding that he was cognizant that there was a downside to 'some of the negative things that the Egyptians engaged in, of torture and so on. But he was not squeamish, by the way'."

Did you like that...'very bright, very realistic'...no, we're not done offering free classes for "Up and Coming Dictators"...cuz, you know man, it's more profitable to train winners, man...and back practical, realistic men...that aren't squeamish...of course...

http://photos.upi.com/view/4322e89a57d149b1545a5ae996ff189d/Israeli-President-Shimon-Peres-meets-Egyptian-Intelligence-Chief-Omar-Suleiman-in-Tel-Aviv.jpg

"Suleiman is a favourite of Israel too; he held the Israel dossier and directed Egypt’s efforts to crush Hamas by demolishing the tunnels that have functioned as a smuggling conduit for both weapons and foodstuffs into Gaza."