-When Good Police Retreat
Yes they are distant places with distant – actually also distinct – cultures. But the peoples of those persuasions, politics, geographies and faiths constitute a (major) portion of the mosaic of the human family.
Even for that latter reason alone, we in this part of the planet should familiarise ourselves with the conditions and current consequences facing those populations. And yes, I’m referring to such places as Tunisia, The Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Iraq Jordan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Turkey and Syria.
I’ll explore briefly, the Mighty Americans’ history and interest in those Middle Eastern Arab lands. Yes you–all (interested) would have seen learned analytical pieces in print and commentaries and documentaries on television. Especially if you have the cable and DirecTV facilities.
My man–in–the–street approach here is goaded by my GAWU friend’s rejection of my description of Syria’s Bashar al–Assad as one who is wantonly slaughtering his innocent people, civilian women and children, using the pretext of going after Western–backed “terrorists” who wish to add his regime to the Autumn Spring of early 2011.
So after my friend lectured me on current French, British and American evil in arming the Free Syrian Army members to ruin Syria; after he wouldn’t accept even the word of Army defectors who described Assad’s order to annihilate even the old and children in anti-government Syrian enclaves – including his piece outlining bribes to both Assad’s former loyalists and Opposition fighters (by Qatar, other Emirates and the pro-American (?) Saudis), I agreed to revisit the exploration of the West’s role in the Middle East. Especially America’s interests and strategies.
Simply recounted, some versions projected this perspective of the American behaviour and intent towards the Oil–Rich Arab lands and heritage…
Sometimes “Enemies”, always interests
The late Forbes Burnham had always cautioned some of us that, Frankly Speaking, in the context of a country’s foreign policy – and relations, “there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests”.
Well man, that axiom accurately seemed/seems to inform America’s foreign policy anywhere any time. Check Uncle Sam’s approach to the Middle East. (I mean from available, reasonably objective, historical accounts.)
The most contemporary fact is that America funded both the Egyptian military – and the young dissidents, who would be trained, through Cairo’s NGO’s to use skills against Mubarak’s autocrats ending with Tahrir Square and the Revolution. America hoped not to lose whoever was in charge in Egypt. One group of students told the New York Times: “Whilst we welcomed American–funded assistance, we knew that American dollars also trained the regime’s State Security Services which harassed and jailed us”.
Where Egypt was also concerned, a Tom Engelhardt reminds, it was most ironic in January 2011 that whilst oppressed Egyptians massed in Cairo’s Square, taking bullets and batterings from the Generals’ Army, some of Egypt’s high command were in northern Virginia at an annual US–Egypt Military Co-operation meeting!
Evidence is easily available now to reveal that the U.S.A secretly sent money to fund TV satellite facilities and other Syrian Opposition “projects”. Just check Wiki Leaks – leaked American documents. Supporting both the government and Opposition seems to be – or have been – a lynchpin of American foreign policy in the Middle East. But as Britain, France and the Soviets, among others, found, when young “Pro-democracy” groups succeed in toppling the decades– old autocrats, even the sponsors find it hard to help the new power–elites fill the democracy vacuum.
Lately a senior American Middle East expert repeated: “You can’t want democracy for those who don’t want it for themselves”. He was, in part, speaking about thousands of young American lives and limbs lost; billions spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet the new, vulnerable, fragile “democracies” continue their bloody sectarian ways. Were those American “sacrifices” worth the effort? Well it is all about attempting – if not ensuring – the accepted American version of global empire – interests. It is alleged that from Latin America to Asia and the Middle East, in the fifties, the U.S. supported some crooked military autocrats, aristocrats, democrats and dictators, including Shahs, Emirs, Sultans and Kings.
Many observers and political historians remind that America was merely following the lead of earlier colonisers – Imperial Britain and other Europeans and the Soviet Union. Oh, but how certain rulers loved American education, medical treatment, weapons and, later, American “safe havens”.
And as I urge you to further explore this fascinating subject, I close with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s declaration in 2005: “For 60 years, the United States pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the Middle East – – and we achieved neither”.
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Please, no police retreat!
Many regulars of this column would be familiar with my “Aftuh–God–is–police” tradition whereby I speak of old –time citizens relying on police protection and investigation immediately and instantly after appealing to Divine Intervention.
Well, this past Monday evening, when young persons at Mc Doom/Agricola, outer Georgetown, attempted to repeat the public robbery and thuggery of the previous Thursday, our good police were made to retreat, to literally, run behind their full–length shields, from the hostile, criminal– minded gangs.
It wasn’t reported like that, but it happened. There are videos, and my own resident eyewitness pal on his phone. The lawless would laugh out loud at the sight. Rocks and other missiles chasing the young lawmen. The pelters and would–be robbers also laughed as they know and knew that the police can’t or won’t shoot anymore. That the expensive water – cannon seems to be a national joke. That people would say that tear–smoke affects the old and the babies.
Against the reality of the need for better community – police relations and the hidden hands of the politicians, I put this to you all: if and when organised bandits invade your home and community and the police (unjustifiably?) feel compromised/ handicapped in their response, what happens to the law–abiding? Discuss that.
Please ponder…
a letter writer suggests that the police squads themselves should take along video – cameras. What do you think?
Jennifer Cumberbatch has been appointed Head of the Education Ministry’s NCERD! Wow! She’s Afro–Guyanese!
the millions for the lame water cannon could have built hinterland workers’ facilities.
the Linden Commission of Inquiry is throwing up police witnesses and Regional Officials with serious amnesia – “I don’t recall”.
ACDA is activating the “development” portion of their designation. I’ll tell you more about their Hydroponic/Home Economics projects, opened on Sunday, quite soon.
see you at the Grand Public Launch of Mashramani 2013 this afternoon outside the Ministry of Culture – Main Street from five o’clock. Can’t you embrace this national festival this time around?
Til next week!
(Comment? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
