If I have to sit and hear one more lecture about the U.S. interest in 'democracy in the Middle East' I think I might become a communist. Ok, well just kidding about that, but after learning of the 'restored relations' between the U.S. and Libya on top of the little admonishing Egypt was given after judges, protestors and the international press were basically beaten in the streets by riot police last week, any semblance of an ideological American foreign policy was lost. Or perhaps I've just become a realist.
While Bush continues to wag the finger of democracy in his weakly radio address, the diplomatic force has under the table started shaking hands with the world's worst dictators. Not that this is anything new--despite Bush's claim in last year's State of the Union that even 'Saudi Arabia is making a step at democratic reforms' (even though women still can't drive and legal measures allow and have practiced the 'eye for an eye' law literally). Though Gaddafi, who certainly ranks in the regions worst of the worst, has gone through a long period of being on the 'outs' with Western diplomacy, he's now not only shaking hands with Tony Blair, but the oil deprived U.S. has again opened warm relations. While some have said that the Libyan regime has converted from a 'radical' opposition regime to one of 'accommodation,' the dictator still doesn't exactly have the world's best human rights record. Also, it doesn't look like he's about to leave his post--which he's occupied since 1969--anytime soon.
Foreign Minister Abdel-Rahman Shalqam pretty much summed up the new relationship by simply saying that, "It is a result of mutual interests, agreements and understandings. In politics there is no such thing as a reward, but there are interests." Let's face it, the U.S. is best friends with some of the world's worst, and it has nothing to do with democracy. Sure democracy is good, but only when it's the right kind let by the right person. And if it's not a democracy, well so long as the government's led by the right person--or at least has something to offer us--that's just fine.
I'm not saying we shouldn't keep fighting for democracy (meaning, fighting for democracy in our own countries and allowing others to do so in theirs), but it seems silly that we should continue with the facade. Nothing new, but let's just stop kidding ourselves.
posted by Katie Warren @ 12:32 PM
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