A couple of weeks ago, the human rights group Freedom House rated the Middle East … the most repressed region of the planet. But that was a couple of weeks ago. At the moment, opposition to dictators is spreading fast and putting authoritarian governments in peril.…

There is no doubt, of course, that Americans favor the spread of democracy. But in many Arab countries, that preference sometimes comes into conflict with other goals, such as protecting our security interests. Egypt was the first Arab government to sign a peace accord with Israel, and Mubarak has been a helpful ally of Washington.

Jordan supported the war against Saddam Hussein and has been a moderate force in Arab-Israeli matters. So the Obama administration has to exercise caution in what it says and does about opposition to governments that have often been key partners on grave issues….

So far … the administration hasn’t thrown its wholehearted support to the opposition. That course is unsatisfying, but it is sensible, for two obvious reasons. The first is that the collapse of dictatorships may not lead to progress. A lot of Americans rooted for the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979 — which brought to power a radical Islamist regime. More recently, the Bush administration pressed for Palestinian elections, only to see victory go to the terrorist Hamas party.

Another reason for caution is that even if the US wants to help opposition movements, it can do them as much harm as good.

The Obama administration earned criticism for not strongly endorsing the anti-government forces in Iran’s failed ‘Green Revolution’. But the president saw that … an American blessing might backfire. Elsewhere as well, close identification with the US can be a stain.

In the long run, everyone agrees, the spread of democracy in the Middle East would be a generally positive thing for both the people of the region and for US interests. But in the short run, toppling autocrats is a chancy business. It can lead to democracy and respect for human rights. Or it can produce chaos, extremism and regional instability….— (Jan 28)

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...
Anti-women state
Updated 25 Nov, 2024

Anti-women state

GLOBALLY, women are tormented by the worst tools of exploitation: rape, sexual abuse, GBV, IPV, and more are among...
IT sector concerns
25 Nov, 2024

IT sector concerns

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambitious plan to increase Pakistan’s IT exports from $3.2bn to $25bn in the ...
Israel’s war crimes
25 Nov, 2024

Israel’s war crimes

WHILE some powerful states are shielding Israel from censure, the court of global opinion is quite clear: there is...