The New Nation - Internet Edition

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher during his recent visit to Bangladesh and later also narrated what the US wanted about Bangladesh. Bangladesh respects the US government's desire to see democracy is restored. As because our people are certainly more committed to the cause of democracy than many of our foreign friends. Bangladesh fought the liberation war for democracy. So it is pleasing when our foreign friends want to help us with establishing a working democracy.It is natural among friends to wish well for each other. As the US maintains good wishes about Bangladesh so also Bangladeshi people, along with world people at large, have certain high expectations of the US with vast potential to do good to the world at large. Our people and those of the world expect that the US will be non violent, win the minds and hearts of people by pursuing the ideals of democracy worldwide.

But the US foreign policy being followed under President Bush is based on invasions, interventions, regime change, rendition under guise of war against terrorism. To be honest to itself the Bush government will have to agree that its war against terrorism means mostly against angry Muslims protesting repression and Israel's state terrorism. President Bush has made America's foreign policy most violent and brutal without caring to know why those Muslims are sacrificing their lives.

Bangladesh as the well-wisher of American people finds it most welcome that American people themselves want regime change for effecting change of Bush policies in the next elections.

The Bush government invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. Every kind of violence against the people of those two countries is being resorted to. We do not say violence in those countries is one-sided but the fact remains the US government docs not care for human rights or rule of law or democracy while conducting military operations in other countries.

The US maintains three detention camps in its Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay shore on its border with Cuba. Suspects were brought there from different parts of the world and are tortured during interrogation. The brutality against those suspects without allowing them access to law shocked and shamed most Americans . We must give credit to the US people that, though belatedly, they revealed courageously the horrendous picture of brutalities committed by the US army in Iraq.

Israel is being given powerful support to make itself a more powerful state to kill and suppress Palestinian Muslims. President Bush has, while visiting Israel, given his full support and encouragement. Yet he talks about peace in the Middle East. If he can he will attack Iran like Iraq on suspicion of it going nuclear. Israel is already in possession of nuclear weapons. That does not bother President Bush because Israel is US's proxy terrorist country serving its "strategic interest".

President Bush thinks negotiation with Iran and Syria for peace in the region is appeasement. In other words, he does not mean peace or he does not have a vision for peace. The truth of the matter is, there will not be peace in the Middle East under his leadership. No true democrat can shun the ways of negotiation.

The founding fathers of the United States of America envisioned a democratic America which would stand for human rights and human happiness for the people everywhere.

Today, Bangladeshis and the people of the world yearn to see that the original democratic and humane America reappears. All democracy-loving countries most eargerly want to enjoy the benefits and protection of a non-violent America. We hope like many others in the world that the next presidential election will bring such change that will restore America's greatness. A world leader who thinks negotiation is appeasement is a danger for a safe world.

We have no hesitation in agreeing with Barrack Obama, the front running presidential candidate in the forthcoming election in the USA, when he says that the USA needs a foreign policy that "looks at the root causes of the problems and dangers."