Posted by
Socrates01 on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:58:47 AM
As Japan dominates the news in the wake of the recent massive earthquake, tsuanami, and still unfolding consequences onlookers from this side of the Pacific can hardly fathom, events in Libya have somewhat been relegated to the status of a sideshow. Perhaps when defeat has been snatched from the jaws of victory it makes sense to simply allow the chattering to run its course before dying a slow death of its own. It seems that reality has once again intruded and dashed the hopes of an administration which seems to rely more on wishful thinking then on the studied opinions of its own inteligence officers such as Mr. Clapper. Always better to complain that someone is "off message" then to accept the message and attempt to formulate a realistic response in an attempt to change the course of events. Does the world really care what the Obama Administration has to say when it has demonstrated the questionable ability to simultaneously support those who would depose governments friendly to the United States and abandon those who might effect change in those governments less friendly to American interests? It seems the "Paper Tiger" has returned with a vengence.
Brutal regimes retain power. Is this particular fact of life completely unfamiliar to the Obama Administration? It is a rare occasion when a virtually unarmed populace can overcome an entrenched and focused regime that cares little about the needs of its people. The irony of the recent events in the Middle East is that the relatively moderate regimes friendly to the United States are the very ones least equiped to withstand any type of serious unrest. The same Western influence that mitigates the excesses of the regime while in power also provides a very real deterrent to the use of excessive force during any attempt to stay in power. This dynamic played out in both Tunisia and Egypt. Lest anyone think that I am glossing over human rights abuses in those two countries, I would suggest that my statements should be taken in the context of the bigger picture.
On the other hand, in those countries where the United States has less influence the opposite dynamic has been in evidence. In neither Iran nor Libya has the government seen any need to meet the artificial standards imposed by the West. Displays of naked power unthinkable in Egypt, as a ally of the United States, are far from unexpected, and the results are not surprising. Couple the will and ability of the rulers to do what is necessary with the unwillingness or inability of the United States to present a successful opposing strategy and, likewise, the results are not surprising. It is an unfortunate fact that the United States is no longer the friend it used to be.