Yes, and what would be your anwers to how the West should behave or lead, or should it do nothing, should it throw all of its welfare resources to help poor countries, or let anything be as if all societies and their cultures are equal.

Policy makers have tough decisions to make, and often get it wrong, but i dont think there are any easy soltuions, despite what lifelong critics like Pilger suggest through their own moral certainty.

Yep, Afghanistan is a mess, but i feel sorry for ordinary men, women and children once that country is left to it self. Just the other day, children were beheaded and a week earlier others were executed for attending a party.

Succinct, to the point and well-structured essay which highlights all the known issues, but does not really bring anything new to the table.

What continues to astound me is the continued belief by the West that our system is one to which the entire world must aspire; that it is one of personal freedom where the rights and sensibilities of others are respected, where political dissention is permitted and everyone is equal. How can such whimsical views of modern democracy still exist? How can we admit on one hand, “The system is not perfect and certainly there is room for improvement” and on the other insist that this imperfect system is the only solution for a peaceful world? It beggars belief.

What gives us the right to assume that every nation would be better under a ‘democratic’ system when, historically, most of those nations have never had such systems and, indeed, have survived precisely because they have not had such systems? What gives us the right to interfere with another nation’s internal affairs, particularly when our own countries are in such a mess? How long can the West, economically and morally, assert their self-delusion of superiority?

Islamism vs Liberalism is a chicken/egg analogy: which came first, radical Islamism or radical Liberalism? Dating back to the crusades, if the West hadn’t interfered with and invaded the East, would the avowed hatred that we see today between the two extremes exist?

The only good thing to come out of the invasion of Iraq was the exposure of the WMD fraud. Escalating tensions between the US and Israel might be construed as a lesson learned - the US is clearly reluctant to make the same mistake twice and, without proof of Iran’s alleged intentions, will not be drawn into starting another Middle East war. It is of concern that very little of what is happening in that arena is being reported in Australia. We are so insular and myopic and ‘superior’ we cannot be bothered to lift our eyes and see beyond our shores. Scary.

"What continues to astound me is the continued belief by the West that our system is one to which the entire world must aspire; that it is one of personal freedom where the rights and sensibilities of others are respected, where political dissention is permitted and everyone is equal. How can such whimsical views of modern democracy still exist? How can we admit on one hand, “The system is not perfect and certainly there is room for improvement” and on the other insist that this imperfect system is the only solution for a peaceful world? It beggars belief."

Just to confirm, you are taking the piss, aren't you

Does anyone actually read this blokes garbage. That goes double for those who hand out awards. They must all be illiterate.

@Scribbler,

<< Islamism vs Liberalism is a chicken/egg analogy: which came first, radical Islamism or radical Liberalism? Dating back to the crusades, if the West hadn’t interfered with and invaded the East, would the avowed hatred that we see today between the two extremes exist?>>

So before the West “interfered” in the Middle East it was a fairy kingdom where everything was rosy and blissful.

And there was no thought nor concept of Jihad.

And words like kaffir and infidel are merely terms of endearment.

John Pilger is absolutely correct. May every dictatorship either of the extreme right or extreme left prosper? I truly look forward to the Australian Police State and suppression of individual liberty provided always that a John Pilger clone is in charge.