Wednesday, February 2, 2011

US Walks Diplomatic Tightrope

If the recent events in Egypt tell us anything they tell us that the United States role in the Middle East has probably been altered forever.  As the governments in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen fall and autocrats in Jordan and Syria brace themselves for civil unrest, the United States finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope.  On one side civil unrest is threatening to unseat governments that have been friendly to our interests.  On the other side citizens of those countries are rising up in search of principals that we hold dear: freedom from oppression and free democratic elections.  While the United States supports the will of the people in deciding their own fate there is great trepidation that the results of these uprisings may drastically threaten the stability of the area and weaken America’s place therein.  The elections in Iran and Lebanon give credence to those fears.
Egypt is the most critical.  Home to over one third of the world’s Muslim population the Middle East looks to Egypt for stability.  A shift in that government to a more radical movement could turn the whole region into chaos.  A closing of the Suez Canal would have worldwide economic implications.  
We can see that the domino effect already taking place.  In Jordan the monarchy has dismissed its government and appointed a Prime Minister, all in an effort to head off an Egyptian style revolt.  In Syria protestors have called for a “Day of Rage” march against the family government.  While Syria is not an ally of the US the unrest in that country is no less troubling.
And while these historic events occur the world is watching closely to see how the United States will respond when their allies are threatened.  Will the US continue to support the governments that have provided it with political cover in this volatile region?  Or will we throw them under the bus and cast our lot with the masses who have long been oppressed by these same allies?  

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