#379: Hey, Wanna-Be Democracies, Make Us An Offer
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Our second-highest ranked general recently opined that about 5% of the Defense department budget of $700+ billion a year pays defense contractors to do nothing. This is because 'continuing resolutions' in Congress advance stop-and-start spending by a few months here, a week there, and occasionally cease altogether during a government shutdown.
He also noted that defense hawks in Congress routinely tell the Pentagon that we need many billions more in military spending than the top brass asks for. And I won't even link to the damning piece in Rolling Stone, recently, that explained how, despite congressional attempts to do so, the Pentagon cannot be audited, so that we really don't know where all the money goes.
In other words, there seems to be ample room to cut.
First, though, what are we fighting for? Democracy around the world would be one answer. If there were more democracies and fewer rogue regimes trying to get away with destabilizing behavior, perhaps we wouldn't feel as threatened.
Obviously, I'm setting up a different use for those excess defense dollars, so let's just cut to the chase:
* challenge non-democratic nations to make us an offer
* describe a step-by-step timetable whereby a government in power voluntarily transitions toward democracy
* see what the asking price would be for such a transition
* establish a secret, prioritized list of those who generate the most instability, and would thus be the most welcomed if they were to submit an offer
* encourage our allies to contribute
* find a deserted island (here are 12), fix it up with luxury appointments, and guarantee safety-until-death for any dictators who agreed to take part
To be honest, it's hard to identify some governments as definitely democratic or not. Elections can be that in name only, and can be rigged from the start. Others involve strongman leaders who don't allow their challengers as much media access as would be fair, or often limit who can run for office. But why bother deciding? Any big man head of state can decide for himself if this is the 'out' he's been looking for, and we could then decide if his (decidedly secret) offer was worth it. The strongman would be a hero for stepping aside (even if he personally felt the walls were closing in for one reason or another).
And, we should add, there'd certainly be in-country pressure from citizens who realized what a booming economy would do for their country--assuming democratic steps were being taken, and financial support was beginning to trickle in, soon to be substantial (a dedicated bank account in a neutral country could assure the monies would be forthcoming).
With that in mind, what countries would be on our prioritized list? The answer would be something to task the CIA with, but here's a rough list, with several included because their leadership might be tempted:
* Iran. Under theocratic control for over 40 years, it's hard to imagine the clerics taking the necessary steps, but if negotiations were possible (no deserted island necessary), what a big deal that would be
* Venezuela. Promising, because it has the educated workforce to support an immediate return to democracy, and was quite wealthy only a few years ago
* Cuba. As with Venezuela, an educated workforce
* North Korea. Hard to imagine, but this would go a long way towards easing tensions in east Asia
* Belarus. This would be fairly high on our list because it would signal to Russia that the time for real democracy has come
* Myanmar. Democratic first steps were recently crushed by a military coup; so a return to that prior path might be possible
* Egypt. A return to the democratic process would be a good influence on all Arab governments
* Turkey. If things continue to go downhill....
There are more likely countries than these, but they'd be considered low priorities compared to the above list, which is composed of fairly large populations and economies that are either very destabilizing (Iran, North Korea), or would send a message (Belarus, Egypt, Myanmar), or would impact our backyard (Venezuela, Cuba; Nato's in the case of Turkey).
Actually, it's conceivable that a secret agreement could be put in place that would see the exile of a head of state, followed by suspiciously high expenditures on economic development, education, the justice system, clean energy, and so on, if the departed leader would prefer a more 'manly' exit.
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