- ObamaOther Opinions
- June 30, 2009
- 4 minutes read
Will Obama turn a blind eye?
We have learnt from international relations that countries define their conduct towards issues of other countries, according to sometimes political interests that may comply with some ethical values. In case of conflict with such ethical values, they will concoct a fake invocation of ethical values which aim only to achieve the most illegitimate of political aims.
Washington”s attitude towards the Iranian elections was determined according to this. Therefore, Washington did not suspect the fairness of the elections because it does not have the instrument through which it can verify this. However, Washington realizes that this regime- which it had previously declared not to topple only days prior the elections- is backed by the Iranian people, a backing which was clearly proved by the high turnout of voters although only some of them voted for Ahmadinejad. Therefore, Washington realizes that the seriousness of this regime is that it is dwarfed so that Ahmadinejad symbloizes the Islamic regime in Iran.
The US attitude only criticizes the regime”s cruelty in repressing protests against the election results, Although Obama knows too well that the protesting masks many other issues that have nothing to do with elections. The protests in fact are a means to an end where they reflect the people”s vitality and the regime”s tolerance. However, vitality has limits in movement and tolerance has limits in endurance.
The US attitude also desires the Iranian authorities to allow protesting demanding that these authorities respond to these protests regardless of any political or security repercussions. Obama is still citing 30 million person demonstrations across the globe protesting the US invasion of Iraq. However, Obama is still insisting that the invasion is a rightly intended decision, although its negative effects have exceeded what the decision maker intended.
On the other hand, will Obama”s attitude differ if Iran were an allied or friendly country, does he really want democracy to prosper in this region?
This question pinned itself in Egypt since Obama declared, in successive statements shortly before his June 2009 visit to Egypt, that he has nothing to do with what is taking place in Egypt.
Then comes his attitude to Iran arising again: Will Obama”s attitude be the same towards the coming Egyptian elections when they are held, when candidates are denied the right to run for presidential and legislative elections, when voters are denied the right to reach ballot boxes to cast their votes, even before holding the elections, especially that the up-coming elections will be held for the first time without any considerable judicial supervision? What will be Obama”s attitude if national powers in Egypt demanded the presence of international supervision so that elections aren”t left under the mercy of a regime where Obama”s knows of its history in the rigging of elections. Obama knows that democracy in Egypt has started as a joke and has remained one which is still foiled.
Democracy is raised as a slogan but it has no real presence on the ground. I think Obama heard the joke circulated in the era of President Sadat: That his friend US president Carter asked him to send him his Interior Ministry a minister who is an expert in rigging elections to support him against Reagan, and the Interior Minister telegraphed President Sadat only hours before the elections to congratulate him on his success, not the US presidential candidate.
As a matter of fact, Obama declared that he has no business with such a matter. He hasn”t claimed that he can or will do anything. He will only worry how Egyptian authorities deal with protesters who cry foul over results, if, there remains any one to protest in Egypt. This is because rigging which includes every thing from the initiating of the election rolls it will be useless to contest results. Will Obama only show good indications and turn a blind eye to hide corruption, as it will be linked with illegitimate political interests?
This good preparation to secure results which are known before hand, will be a disgrace in your relations with the Egyptian people and in your term as a whole.