Regional Riots

The Spreading regional riots in Africa and the Middle East


The spreading unrest in the Middle East and Africa came as a surprise to some but to others it was very predictable. The spreading violence committed by police against civilians in these countries is a testament to the illegitimacy of these governments. People that are deprived of opportunity, education and legitimate representation will inevitably rise up against oppressive forces. This is not a phenomena limited to the current riots and demonstrations in the Middle East and Africa.

hour and a half debate on NPR on spreading Democracy by the sword

The debate really is if America should spread democracy by force. The link above is a great hour and a half debate on the subject. In 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq, one of the admitted goals of the operation would be a stabilized and freely elected government free of a dictator. Sadly the end result has been a country divided by ethnic and tribal lines that has prevented the government from passing crucial legislation to bring true economic and political stability in Iraq.

Iraq will be a very long and sadly bloody problem for American foreign policy makers for another decade. Although things have calmed down in the country it is far from being a flourishing place for freedom and trade. The example American purists would argue would be Japan and South Korea. After American occupation and development both countries rank in the top 10 or 20 in things like education and GDP growth. Although the difference between South Korea and Iraq couldn't be bigger. But the fundamental foundation being provided to them is no different. Perhaps it will take a few generations before we see Iraq rank along side Japan but if we hold true to our original goals, that could be a real thing we see in our lifetimes.

Where this policy has failed miserably of course would be the bloody jungle war in Vietnam that was a nightmarish and hell on Earth scenario for the U.S. Military and Government. The only good thing that came from that conflict is how badly the taste of a draft is in the mouth of American public opinion. The desire for the Pentagon to have a purely volunteer military has been good for U.S. interests. It keeps a high moral in the ranks and it keeps anti-military arguments dull and without a point since nobody is being forced to wear the uniform of our country.

How this all relates back to the spreading of Democracy and the regional riots and revolutions across the middle east is that its now happening naturally. Violence is always a last resort for U.S. Policy and diplomacy is always the first. Sadly we are better at Warfare and Diplomacy most of the time. So we always will talk to countries and try to convince them to allow free elections and let go of theocratic or fascist styles of governance. We sometimes don't to the best job at making that case clear. Sometimes we are faced with hostile actions and we as policy will always defend ourselves around the world wherever Americans are.

These revolutions spreading across the middle east are happening in my opinion only because it's come to that boiling point for the common man. When America had it's revolution we tried to negotiate and adapt to British rule that was both tyrannical and without representation. It was until the frustration grew to a point where the common man would risk his life for his freedom that his freedom was achieved. The courage to demonstrate and rise up against these oppressive regimes across the mid-east has come from the example America has set in 1776 by overthrowing English rule and in 2001 invading Afghanistan to not spread democracy by the sword, but to protect democracy abroad.

Dictatorships and Theocratic rule has no place in the free world. Slowly and naturally the old ways of Monarchy and Military rule over the people will slowly degrade and go away. As people cry out and demand and demonstrate for there rights to their own pursuit of happiness.