During the Cold War from the outset the United States had strategic and economic interests throughout the Third World. For anyone who doesn't already realize it there are few democracies in the Third World. We found ourselves supporting a bunch of unsavory characters against another bunch of similar characters throughout Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Franklin Roosevelt once famously said of the dictator of Nicaragua, "He's a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch!" This logic was soon transferred from Central America to Africa and the Middle East. We supported royalists against populists and Communists. Then we supported colonial powers against Soviet-backed local players striving for liberation. After the wave of decolonization in the 1960s we were at least spared from that embarrassment again. In the Angolan civil war the main difference between the three liberation movements that fought each other was their ethnic affiliation and the Portuguese word that they used for comrade as a greeting.
But that could be justified in terms of keeping the Free World free. Since the end of the Cold War we have been faced in the Muslim Middle East with secular national socialists (Ba'athists, pan-Arabists) and fundamentalist Islamists. It was announced on CNN on Wed. evening that the anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya consisted of only about a thousand "warriors" with little military experience or expertise. To win they will require major training and arms supplies. Before we attempt to turn them into the next Northern Alliance, we should be sure that they are better than the last lot.
I can well imagine aspiring foreign policy advisers sitting the following exam for their license. The exam question is: The Spanish inquisition has just gone to war against Fascist Italy. We are not at war with either. Whom should we support? Discuss and bring examples from American history.
Very sharply focused and I think the Cold War context is actually surprisingly relevant regarding current events.
ReplyDeleteI loved your analysis. very smart.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why we, the super-power America, even need to intervene and support any government. do we, purely, seek to liberate the countries from the "son of bitches," or do we seek our interests related to that country or the region? hhhaa, very difficult to figure it out.
Interesting post, Tom, and I like how you relate the current situation in Libya to various events that took place during the Cold War. It's no wonder we have the cliche: history repeats itself. Yet, we must also apply lessons learned from history - and in doing so think critically about the consequences stemming from our support of a particular regime in the future.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Tom. I hadn't read the quote by FDR -- fascinating. And you make an excellent point: how do we know the Libyan rebels will do any better?
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