Supporting repressive regimes gives the U.S. military incentive to block democratization.

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)

This effort continues: in 2011, another wave of mass struggle burst onto the historic stage in the Middle East and North Africa. In a matter of weeks, grassroots movements in Tunisia and Egypt swept from power two pro-Western dictators who had ruled with an iron fist for decades. Democracy and political freedom were key demands in the Arab uprisings of 2011. The United States’ response was at first to stand by its dictatorial allies. When it became clear that they would be swept aside, it embraced the grassroots movements rhetorically. In reality, the United States has either tried to co-opt sections of the resistance (Libya) as a way to limit the scope of change, or supported the forces of counterrevolution, from the Egyptian army to various Gulf states (Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular are leading the counterrevolutionary efforts). — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 210 (#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; The US alternately armed and opposed Islamist forces to preserve its regional domination. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 29 (+2 more)

Related

• US policy backed dictators and counterrevolution against the Arab Spring (similarity 0.93)
• The US responded to 2011 uprisings by backing counterrevolution (similarity 0.92)
• Maintaining bases in undemocratic nations makes the United States complicit in their abuses (similarity 0.91)
• The US backed counterrevolution during the Arab Spring while professing support (similarity 0.91)
• US funds and arms its dictatorial allies to block domestic challenges (similarity 0.90)
• US Arab Spring response co-opted opposition or backed counterrevolution to limit change (similarity 0.89)
• Obama backed Arab Spring rhetorically while funding the Egyptian military’s counterrevolution. (similarity 0.89)
• Washington co-opted or counterattacked every Arab Spring uprising (similarity 0.88)
• US policy repeatedly wrecked democratic movements and installed dictators in MENA (similarity 0.85)
• Obama rhetorically embraced the Arab Spring while funding its counterrevolutionaries (similarity 0.84)
• US policy in the MENA region consistently favored its geopolitical interests over democratic outcomes (similarity 0.82)
• US officials justified backing Arab dictators by deeming Arabs incapable of democratic self-rule (similarity 0.80)
• The US alternately armed and opposed Islamist forces to preserve its regional domination. (similarity 0.79)
• US Middle East alliances have repeatedly thwarted democracy (similarity 0.79)
• The US backed absolute monarchies while the USSR backed Arab nationalists. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• US policy backed dictators and counterrevolution against the Arab Spring #exemplifies (0.75) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 580
• U.S. officials collaborated with murderous regimes to secure base access overseas. #exemplifies (0.70)
• The US responded to 2011 uprisings by backing counterrevolution #exemplifies (0.70) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 210
• The US alternately armed and opposed Islamist forces to preserve its regional domination. #exemplifies (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 29