Thousands
of desperate people have been forced to leave their once prosperous countries
to find shelter elsewhere – this is a direct result of and a lesson on what
comes with a regime change sponsored by the United States and Europe, People's
Daily Online asserted.
In other words, a humanitarian catastrophe often preceded by the collapse of a state. Take Libya or Syria for instance.
"Libya used to be the
richest country in Africa in terms of per capita GDP. Libyans
had access to much coveted material benefits including free medical care,
free housing and free education. Despite limits on oil exports, Syria
under the Ba'ath Party enjoyed political stability, social calm … and
public prosperity," the online edition of one of China's leading
newspapers noted.
At the moment, Libya and Syria are torn apart by rivaling forces, their economies have contracted dramatically and millions of people have become refugees. This seemingly impossible change from stability to civil war took place in 2011 as a result of so-called Arab Spring.
But how could the life of innocent people living
in prosperous countries turn into hell?
The question of who is responsible for the
present-day chaos and suffering in Libya and Syria should be directed at
"shortsighted democratically elected leaders in the United States and
Europe," as the media outlet put it. They were the ones who used the
Arab Spring to instigate regime changes across the Middle East and
beyond.
People's Daily Online sharply criticized the US and
Europe for adhering to aggressive foreign policy strategies, calling
them "dangerous and stupid." According to the newspaper, they
emerge from what is essentially the key element of western democracy:
choosing visionary and well-informed politicians is impossible
in countries ruled by money and populism.
The United States and Europe should view the influx
of refugees as a warning, People's Daily Online noted. The time has
come for the West to rethink its foreign policy and learn the
following: Don't do unto others, what you wouldn't want done unto you.
Source: Sputnik News 09-09-2015
