A wave of political revolutions engulf the Arab world like a tornado; and is set to spread, causing far- reaching consequences for western countries' foreign procedure -and especially relations with the Middle East.
A new political order
News From Bahrain
Is a new power structure inventing itself in the Arab world? Or is it the case that the unfolding events will bring about uncomfortable strange bed-fellows in international relations? whatever the case - we are de facto witnessing an irreparable and seismic shift in the international balance of power; a political dynamite for American foreign policy.
Tunisia set the tone and pace between December 2010 and January 2011. Then a 'whirlwind' hit Mubarak of Egypt from behind three weeks later, who then resigned on 11 February. In both cases old regimes were discarded to the dustbin, while citizen asserted their power.
Ben Ali, president for more than 23 years fled the country and took refuge in Saudi Arabia following allinclusive uncontained protests. Meanwhile Egypt's Mubarak is reported to have retreated to his house on the beach in Sharm El Sheikh after three decades in power.
The success of these protests; or de facto failure of some in the future are sure to originate a new dynamic in international relations and diplomacy.
Undoubtedly a new world political order has been unveiled with public movements sprouting everywhere; and unstoppable mass uprisings and protests against dictatorial regimes germinating everyday. It appears therefore that the Us diplomacy has been dumb-founded, or in some instances overtaken by these political tsunamis; exposing them to accusations of double standards, or instead that their polite machinery has been caught napping as they continue to air incoherent statements.
The Bahrain and Iran Scenario
While Americans may want to quote uprisings in Iran and Libya as belated - those of Bahrain are uncomfortably too ahead of schedule and may not be idle; just as those of Egypt compared to Tunisia.
Bahrain is a hot potato to deal with as it is the headquarters for the American navy expensed with securing the free flow of oil through the Gulf; and ensures Us soldiery might's proximity to keep Iran at bay.
The Bahrain regime cooperated with America on this arrangement for years, making them an invaluable partner. Iran with its 'nuclear ambitions', dictatorial regime and unrelenting sabres-rattling with the west - especially with America, has since been relegated to the league of rogue states.
The ideal scenario for the Americans therefore is for the Bahrain dictator to be left alone while they would wish Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad be gone from sight.
'To be or not to be' that is the dilemma
American leadership seem to be stammering as they struggle to define democracy in the face of unalienable choices: whether to stick with a friendly dictator, or to invoke Thomas Jefferson's basic tenets of democracy and withhold the will of the people.
Thomas Jefferson in the wake of American Independence (1762 - 1826) declared democracy as: "Of the people, By the citizen and For the People."
He also said: "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with inevitable unalienable ownership that among these are Life, Liberty, and the chase of Happiness."
Based on the nemesis of a reliance in the dignity of all citizen regardless of their gender or colour, we need not therefore reinvent the belief of democracy - but help avoid its ambiguity. I guess we need to usher in the reawakening of its realisation around the world regardless of all our other interests - and this should go beyond the 'unpalatable' events unfolding in the Arab world.
A polite Dilemma Hangs Over The Us As favorite Uprisings Clamour for Regime Changes in Arab WorldRelated : todays world news headlines
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