The problem with the whole American policy of spreading democracy as it is supposed to have come from the Cold War is that the US is actually responsible for subverting democracy more times than promoting it. In fact the US has been helping to fund "friendly" dictators since way back in FDR's time. There are so many examples of this: Panama, Chile, Iraq, Gutamala and Honduras (the whole Banana Industry thing), Vietnam (yes Vietnam was a subversion of democracy because the Viet Minh were a popular movement regardless of whether it was "communist" or not), and the most notorious and well documented in recent memory is Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan revolution which brought the Sandinistas into power was a popular movement. Until 1979 Nicaragua had been oppressed by the Samoza family. Father then son had prosecuted a psychopathic regime funded since FDR. There is a famous quote which has one man saying to FDR "Why are we helping this bastard" and FDR replying "But he's OUR bastard". The sandinistas took power and esteablished a democratic process and a constitution and a policy based off of many socialist and, amazingly, catholic ideas. Quality of life improved drastically after the revolution.
However immediately the US began to fund the Contras (the military remnants of the Samoza regime) and gave them weapons and tactical education. The Contra affair saw the Contra's manual, provided by the CIA, revealed. It told them to target so called "soft targets". These targets included farmers, school, teachers, clinics, doctors, and civilians. The CIA said that it was better to attack civilians and hide in the shadows than attack the Nicaraguan Army directly. For 10 years the people of Nicaragua endured this unending terrorist campaign essentially prosecuted by the US through the Contras. By 1980 something like 70, 000 Nicaraguans had died as a result of the Contras. Eventually it lead to the election of a massive coalition headed by the Samozas. In effect they had wittled the will of the people of Nicaragua into voting for the old dictator in order to end the violence. Even then the victory was surprising. After that the reforms of the Sandinistas were dismantled and life has gotten worse.
I can't see how anyone can say that didn't happen. There is too much documentation. Also this was started by Reagan and continued by Bush Sr. the whole idea of "spreading democracy" is a sham in the US. The only time democracy is encouraged is when it is more convenient than supporting a de facto dictator.
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