The current political chaos in Egypt provides a picture perfect example of how convoluted is U.S. foreign policy.
Egypt shows how U.S. interventionism in the affairs of foreign nations leads to nothing but trouble, and backs the U.S. into a corner where no matter what it does (besides letting Egypt take care of its own business) will only make the situation worse.
Read below as neocon Jonathan Tobin talks out of both sides of his mouth:
While encouraging democracy is embedded in America’s foreign policy DNA, it is vital that the administration understands that the main threat to both Egypt’s future and U.S. interests is the Brotherhood, not their military antagonists.
First of all, encouraging democracy is not in America’s foreign policy DNA. Quite the contrary, America’s DNA contains statements like the following from George Washington:
“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.”
John Quincy Adams would echo in 1821, that America:
“…has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart…Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.”
That is America’s foreign policy DNA!
Sadly, the neocons have hijacked foreign policy to the detriment of Americans and the rest of the world. For military empire, conquest, and pre-emptive wars are antithetical to U.S. traditions and the ideas of freedom that powered those traditions.
Tobin then unleashes the double-talk:
Any effort or American pressure aimed at allowing the Brotherhood to get another shot at power, even by peaceful means, would, like the year of support for Morsi, be a tragic mistake.
In other words, Tobin will wave the Democracy pom-poms for Egypt, unless the election results in the Muslim Brotherhood winning. America cannot allow it, even though they would win “by peaceful means”.
Tobin then entertains with some irony:
Islamists may use democracy as a tool to gain power but they neither believe in it nor do they feel bound by it once in power.
The U.S. itself has a document known as The U.S. Constitution that is supposed to act as the law of the land. Instead, it is barely acknowledged to exist…especially by neocons!
The cherry on top from Tobin is that this whole idea is A-OK:
But taking a stand against the Brotherhood is not antithetical to democracy promotion.
To sum it up, Democracy is a great thing for Egypt as long as U.S. officials like the winner. If the U.S. does not like the winner, the result cannot be allowed. And this “policy” is “not antithetical to democracy promotion.”
You can’t make this stuff up.
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