Whatever Happened to Free Tibet ?

I remember back a few years seeing Free Tibet bumper stickers on progressive Saabs and hippie VWs. Tibet is still in China's clutches, Russia is busy slapping around it's former vassal states, but the world is focused on the supposed crimes of George Bush.

I can understand the argument that we never should have invaded Iraq, although I think that point is now moot. I can also understand those who think war is wrong and who insist that might doesn't make right.

What I can't understand is those on the left who criminalize the Iraq invasion but see nothing wrong with Ivan putting a knife to Georgia's throat because she runs a competing pipeline and cozies up to Uncle Sam.

Who champions the whole "Iraq as disaster" meme? Scared, jealous neighbors who don't want their own despotic teacups turned over, and peace-at-all-cost Europeans who were profiting nicely from the Saddam-era status quo. And American progressives who used to stand for freedom have jumped right in.

Can't these progressives see the illogic in protesting the Iraq invasion but giving China and Russia a free pass every time they brass knuckle a neighbor or support oppression in Africa because they need the natural resources and subservient political allies?

Here are a few examples of Bush-bashing progressives defending Russia's naked aggression:

magnifco1000 wrote:

The bottom line, the former Soviet Republics have all been sent a message. You have to make peace with Russia, like it or not, and forget the siren call of supposed wealth and riches from the West. It's the call of opportunists and when push comes to shove, they won't be there for you anyway.

Now, substitute "former Soviet Republics" with "Arab Countries" and "Russia" with "the US" and you see how very unprogressive this statement is!

jvandeswaluw1 wrote:

I would like to wish that George Bush had the same common sense as the Georgian leader; retreat when you know that you can't win. It took the Georgian leader only a few days to realize this; Bush doesn't realize this after more than six years! But George has always been a slow learner.

Another progressive cheering at the retreat of a sovereign nation in the face of a foreign invasion, and wishing his own government would retreat in shame as well.

jellybean1 wrote:

Georgia invaded a breakaway region which is protected by Russia. Russia responded with military actions against Georgia. Georgia retreated because of defeat, and declared cease-fire.

This guy swallowed Ivan's propaganda hook, line and sinker. He's the same brain surgeon who routinely labels "kool-aid drinker" anyone who believes anything the President says.

All this madness detracts from human rights disasters that flourish due to world inattention and inaction: Reporters languish in Cuban dungeons. Darfur rapes and killings continue, Russia bullies it neighbors, human trafficking... And Tibet still isn't free. So rail against President Bush and our actions if you must. That is your constitutionally-guaranteed right, and government always bears watching. But please stop ignoring and even excusing brutality from other world actors.

I know progressives will never embrace President Bush, but is it too much to ask them to at least embrace intellectual honesty?