The U.S., Chavez and Turkmenistan: Who's the "tyrant" and why?
In another AP story, it was reported today that Saparmurat Niyazov, leader of Turkmenistan, has dedicated an 17 million dollar building, that he dubbed "the house of free creativity" to the press, as a part of an official celebration of 15 years of "independence".
The irony here is that Niyazov and his cronies have outlawed the independent press, along with many other things.
It's almost as ironic as claims of "independence". Niyazov, the self-proclaimed "Turkmenbashi" (leader of all Turkmens), has ruled Turkmenistan since it broke from the USSR in 1991.
He is an absolute nut, and a meglomaniac. He has outlawed all books from the USSR-era ... you know, the ones with facts and truths in them; and has filled all libraries and schools with books he's written himself.
On libraries, he closed everyone of the many -- built in Soviet times -- outside of the capital on the grounds that "people in rural areas don't read."
He shut down award winning opera and ballet theatres, claiming they "were not a part of Turkmen culture."
He closed universities and research labs from the days of the USSR.
He fired 15,000 healthcare workers and closed down all clinics and hospitals outside of the capital city. According to Niyazov "people can come to the capital if they are sick."
He has renamed towns, streets and even months and days of the week after himself and his mother. He built a $100 million temple to his mother in his hometown.
The streets are lined with pictures and statues of the twisted ruler.
Those who oppose him are sent to prison camps or mental facilities.
Yet, there's a good chance you've never heard of the guy. The U.S. government has remained pretty quite on the guy.
While they spend much of their time talking about the "tyrant" Hugo Chavez, who was democratically elected as president of Venezuela, they never mention Niyazov!
I wonder what the reason for this could be?
...
Could it be because, according to the Washington Post, "... In the first years after winning independence in 1991 ... Turkmen officials auctioned off choice oil and gas fields for as little as $100,000 to foreign opportunity seekers."?
This is all tied in with U.S. foreign policy in the Mid-East too, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
There's an article you may want to read on the subject here: http://www.moles.org/ProjectUnderground/drillbits/6_08/1.html
The irony here is that Niyazov and his cronies have outlawed the independent press, along with many other things.
It's almost as ironic as claims of "independence". Niyazov, the self-proclaimed "Turkmenbashi" (leader of all Turkmens), has ruled Turkmenistan since it broke from the USSR in 1991.
He is an absolute nut, and a meglomaniac. He has outlawed all books from the USSR-era ... you know, the ones with facts and truths in them; and has filled all libraries and schools with books he's written himself.
On libraries, he closed everyone of the many -- built in Soviet times -- outside of the capital on the grounds that "people in rural areas don't read."
He shut down award winning opera and ballet theatres, claiming they "were not a part of Turkmen culture."
He closed universities and research labs from the days of the USSR.
He fired 15,000 healthcare workers and closed down all clinics and hospitals outside of the capital city. According to Niyazov "people can come to the capital if they are sick."
He has renamed towns, streets and even months and days of the week after himself and his mother. He built a $100 million temple to his mother in his hometown.
The streets are lined with pictures and statues of the twisted ruler.
Those who oppose him are sent to prison camps or mental facilities.
Yet, there's a good chance you've never heard of the guy. The U.S. government has remained pretty quite on the guy.
While they spend much of their time talking about the "tyrant" Hugo Chavez, who was democratically elected as president of Venezuela, they never mention Niyazov!
I wonder what the reason for this could be?
...
Could it be because, according to the Washington Post, "... In the first years after winning independence in 1991 ... Turkmen officials auctioned off choice oil and gas fields for as little as $100,000 to foreign opportunity seekers."?
This is all tied in with U.S. foreign policy in the Mid-East too, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
There's an article you may want to read on the subject here: http://www.moles.org/ProjectUnderground/drillbits/6_08/1.html
