The Opposite Desired Effect: We're seeing it happen right now in Iraq

[Roland99]

Some time ago I ran across an article discussing economics. It was about Ludwig Von Mises take on capitalism vs. free markets. Mises had a quote that, in essence, was saying that a government intervening in a situation that itself was the result of a prior intervention will lead to the opposite desired effect. He was referring to things such as gov't regulation such as price/rent controls or anti-trust legislation. However, that thought can certainly be applied to US foreign policy (or any nation, for that matter).

The US saw this first-hand in the 1951 removal by the CIA of Mossadeq and the installation of the Shah. The original intervention was the British control of the government and setting up a profit-sharing deal with the Iranian oil industry. Mossadeq came to power and nationalized the oil. The US intervened (the 2nd intervention for this exercise) and installed the Shah. The opposite result occurred in 1979 during the Iranian revolution that ended the reign of the Shah.

Along a similar timeline, the US was involved in setting up a pro-US government in Iraq and the Ba'ath party came to power. Things were all fine and dandy between Iraq and the US until Saddam Hussein decided to encroach on Bush family investments in Kuwait in the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. (Oh, btw, Kuwait was created from yet another intervention of the British in the earlier part of the 20th Century and was used by the British Navy).

Not wanting to feel left out of spreading a different form of capitalistic colonialism, the neoconservatives in power in Washington in the 21st century decided they could intervene yet again and remove the political party helped to power in Iraq by the US half a century earlier. The Iraqi gov't had outlived its usefulness and was now a thorn in the side of US oil interests. So, an invasion of Iraq was orchestrated in order to spread and foster a domino theory of democracy.

Intervention into a situation that was itself the result of a prior intervention...


...results in the opposite desired effect:

Iraqi Shi'ite Militia Ready To Join Fight
http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060724-122256-7766r

Seeking safety, Iraqis turn to militias
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060724/wl_csm/osadr


Well, Iraq has a new "democratically elected government" but it's hardly comprised of that which the neoconservatives fantasized.

Welcome to the Opposite Desired Effect!

[NJCher]

1. I recall something like this

Being discussed or written about prior to bush starting this war.

Not that any research or wisdom would have interfered with their plans to wage war in Iraq.

Still, it's interesting to look at in retrospect.




Cher