From an interview with a High Ranking Official of the United States Government…

Me: "Sir, we would like you to clarify your position with regard to events in the Middle East if you would be so kind."

Official: "Certainly. It is really quite straight forward."

Me: "Excellent. Now, first of all, can you explain who you are backing in the current Libya situation?"

Official: "Of course - we are backing insurgents who are fighting for the freedom and democracy they so richly deserve."

Me: "I see. So backing insurgents is a good thing?"

Official: "Absolutely. These people are freedom fighters for whom we have a great deal of respect. We will be supplying them with arms and technology to further their cause since it aligns so well with our own ideals of freedom and democracy."

Me: "So what about the insurgents in Iraq?"

Official: "Oh, they're bad. We don't like them."

Me: "But aren't they freedom fighters as well?"

Official: "Well, that's what they call themselves. But we know they are really insurgents fighting what they think is an evil invader, but really isn't."

Me: "I see. So insurgents are bad. What about the insurgents in Afghanistan?"

Official: "Are we talking about the first ones or the second ones?"

Me: “The first ones.”

Official: “Oh, they were good. They were fighting an evil empire that invaded them and installed their own puppet government. So we supplied them with arms and money and helped them kick out the evil invader.”

Me: “And what about the second set of insurgents in Afghanistan?”

Official: "Oh, they're bad. We don't like them at all. The first ones were good - they were fighting an evil invader. But these guys are evil invaders, so we kill them."

Me: "So let me get this straight. The first Afghan insurgents were good because they were fighting an evil invader, but now the second ones are bad because they are fighting an evil invader. The Iraq insurgents are bad because they are fighting what they think is an evil invader but isn't, and the Libyan insurgents are good because, what, no evil has invaded yet?"

Official: "Clear as day, isn't it?"

Me: "Well thank you very much for clarifying things."

Official: "My pleasure. Any time."