Maintaining bases in undemocratic nations makes the United States complicit in their abuses
Evidence
In the context of the Arab uprisings of 2011, the Obama administration at first supported its dictatorial allies (such as Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, a personal friend of the Clinton family). When it became clear that they were going to be swept from power, Obama embraced the Arab Spring, at least in public, while at the same time supporting counterrevolutionary forces around the region. The United States continued to fund the Egyptian military, the key source of counterrevolution in that country. Elsewhere the Obama White House stayed silent—such as when Saudi Arabia not only repressed its Shi’a rebellion but also sent troops to Bahrain to crush the uprising in that country. Had Obama wanted to intervene on the side of the prodemocracy demonstrators in Bahrain, he could have used the Fifth Fleet, which is stationed there. Instead, he opted to support pro-Western forces in Libya and Syria as a means of replacing inconsistent allies and deflating movements demanding real democracy and social change. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 580 (
#exemplifies, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: U.S. officials collaborated with murderous regimes to secure base access overseas.; US policy backed dictators and counterrevolution against the Arab Spring — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 580
Related
- Supporting repressive regimes gives the U.S. military incentive to block democratization. (similarity 0.91)
- US policy backed dictators and counterrevolution against the Arab Spring (similarity 0.91)
- The US backed counterrevolution during the Arab Spring while professing support (similarity 0.88)
- Obama backed Arab Spring rhetorically while funding the Egyptian military’s counterrevolution. (similarity 0.88)
- US funds and arms its dictatorial allies to block domestic challenges (similarity 0.87)
- Washington co-opted or counterattacked every Arab Spring uprising (similarity 0.85)
- The US responded to 2011 uprisings by backing counterrevolution (similarity 0.84)
- US policy repeatedly wrecked democratic movements and installed dictators in MENA (similarity 0.84)
- US Arab Spring response co-opted opposition or backed counterrevolution to limit change (similarity 0.83)
- US policy in the MENA region consistently favored its geopolitical interests over democratic outcomes (similarity 0.81)
- Obama rhetorically embraced the Arab Spring while funding its counterrevolutionaries (similarity 0.81)
Broader Connections
- US policy backed dictators and counterrevolution against the Arab Spring
#exemplifies(0.65) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 580