U.S. Changes Foreign Policy

 There was a great piece in the LA Times that you can find here. The story is based on "anonymous" sources in the White House, however, if true, could be a major change in the U.S. approach to the Middle East. 

In the article, we find out that President Obama is making changes in response to the massive protests across the Middle East.

President Obama is challenging his administration to formulate a new Middle East policy that emphasizes political and economic reforms to bolster U.S. allies now threatened by the protest movements sweeping the region.

I have always argued that it is in the best long term interests of the United States to listen to the protesters and their demands for change in each of the countries where the uprisings are occurring. Here is my reasoning:

Dictatorships can last for quite some time, but democracies can last for much longer. In juxtaposition, we can see that dictatorships are much more of a short term solution for stability than a democracy is. If the administration wants to establish long term relationships to protect its interests (mainly oil) than it is better off making moves to help domestically-grown freedom movements succeed (or just not be crushed by the regime). In the end, the movements for reform always win and any regime leader is not ending threats to his leadership (all are men) by attacking protesters, only postponing it.

With this in mind, any move made by the administration to support the uprisings is a good one. The LA Times article continues by detailing the reasons for the change in policy: 

With those allied governments under pressure from their citizens, the U.S. is confronting the likelihood of having diminished influence over whatever political order emerges. But a greater risk is that Washington could be seen as trying to prop up crumbling regimes and could alienate the rising pro-democracy leaders.

Not able to call publicly for reform in all its dictatorial allies, the U.S. has been pushing reform behind the scenes:

They [U.S. diplomats] have told the Saudis they should support efforts by the Sunni royal family in neighboring Bahrain to work out a new power-sharing arrangement with the Shiite Muslims, who make up the majority of the country's population and who have been leading the street protests in the tiny kingdom. [The U.S. has a military base in Bahrain]

[Brackets were added.] Aides to the President have said he recognized the need for change soon after the street protests began in Egypt on Jan 25. He lectured his national security team for 10 mins saying that there would be further upheaval "not just in countries where there are protests, but in countries where there have not yet been protests." He continued:

"The president concluded by telling us... we wouldn't be simply responding to protests in individual countries, but revisiting our entire approach to take into account the changes that are taking place."

 According to the aid, the new policy will have democracy and expansion of political and economic rights "as core interests of ours in the region."

Before this change in policy, the administration has voiced its concern for human rights. In President Obama's September UN speech, he stated his allegiance not to rulers but entire populations: "The idea is a simple- that freedom, justice and peace for the world must begin with freedom, justice and peace in the lives of individual human beings."

In addition, two weeks before protests began in Egypt, Sectary of State Clinton warned leaders of the Arab world in Qatar of potential violence by telling leaders: "The region's foundations are sinking in the sand." and that people are getting tired of "corrupt institutions and a stagnant political order."

Meanwhile, NATO is considering implementing a No-Fly zone over Libya to stop Quaddafi from using his airpower to overwhelm protesters (Al Jazeera has shown maps showing different air craft carriers moving from the Atlantic Ocean to Mediterranean sea). If initiated, the move will limit Quaddafi, but not by much, since the crazed leader has been arming different allied tribes as well as hiring mercenaries from different countries to fight protesting tribes (Quaddafi son was right when he said Libya is not Egypt, here tribes fight each other).

I don't doubt that this change in policy is true, I will be extremely proud of the Obama administration for recognizing what I've been saying for so long!!! (maybe they read this blog!!) If anything, I admire President Obama's foresight (although a reaction to initial protests) on the issue, and although working for the U.S. interests, I believe that when discussing these protests, pro-democracy protester interests are perfectly in line with Washington's.
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If this is the change, then it is a welcome one.

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