2011.02.02: February 2, 2011: Panama and Colombia RPCV John Freivalds writes: As we confront the growing diplomatic mess in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, I recall when the U.S. found itself in the same predicament some 30 years ago when the Shah of Iran fell from power
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2011.02.02: February 2, 2011: Panama and Colombia RPCV John Freivalds writes: As we confront the growing diplomatic mess in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, I recall when the U.S. found itself in the same predicament some 30 years ago when the Shah of Iran fell from power
Panama and Colombia RPCV John Freivalds writes: As we confront the growing diplomatic mess in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, I recall when the U.S. found itself in the same predicament some 30 years ago when the Shah of Iran fell from power
Our policy in the Middle East has been singular and saddled with heavy-duty blinders: Anyone who is against al-Qaida and radical Islam is our friend, regardless of how many people he tortures, how many decades he has been in power, how corrupt his family is, how many weapons he wants from us, how he treats his people and how many innocent people are killed by our drone strikes. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo has 600 military advisers, and I am sure they are not there to teach Egyptians about the Bill of Rights or to build universities for all those unemployed youths we see protesting the lack of opportunity. Michael Metrinko, one of my Georgetown classmates and a fellow former Peace Corps volunteer, was working at the U.S. Embassy in Iran at the time it was seized and was the only one who spoke Farsi. He endured being a hostage for 444 days -- and then we learned nothing from his suffering. Now the whole Middle East in blowing up in the face of the U.S. and he warns, "We might find ourselves being on the wrong side of history again." Uprisings have started in Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and Jordan and will spread throughout the corrupt Middle East. They have become viral and can't be stopped, and so we can't hedge our bets by saying we are with the people who must work with their governments (more like Mafia-style family-run operations, really) which will now all of a sudden be "responsive."
Panama and Colombia RPCV John Freivalds writes: As we confront the growing diplomatic mess in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, I recall when the U.S. found itself in the same predicament some 30 years ago when the Shah of Iran fell from power
U.S. about to repeat its mistakes of the past as dictator falls?
BY JOHN FREIVALDS FOR THE TH
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As we confront the growing diplomatic mess in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, I recall when the U.S. found itself in the same predicament some 30 years ago when the Shah of Iran fell from power.
When the Iranian people finally threw out the shah in 1979 (we helped put him in in 1953), Iranians mistrusted but didn't hate the U.S. immediately.
The U.S. stood by while the shah hired the Israeli secret police (Mossad) to train his own (Savak) and sold him his selection of military toys at favorable rates.
We even started Iran's atomic energy program and helped him enrich uranium; the shah joked he wanted to build 600 bombs. Nelson Rockefeller, a former vice president, once said, "We must take His Majesty to the U.S. for a couple of years so he can teach us how to run a country."
But all that wasn't enough.
Then President Carter made the decision to allow the shah into the U.S. when he was finally overthrown and then it all broke loose. And we continued to back an unpopular loser. The initial throwing out of the shah was not anti-American, but Carter's actions turned the revolution more radical to what it has become today.
We are in danger of making the same mistake in Egypt when Mubarak finally gets the message he is toast.
Our policy in the Middle East has been singular and saddled with heavy-duty blinders: Anyone who is against al-Qaida and radical Islam is our friend, regardless of how many people he tortures, how many decades he has been in power, how corrupt his family is, how many weapons he wants from us, how he treats his people and how many innocent people are killed by our drone strikes.
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo has 600 military advisers, and I am sure they are not there to teach Egyptians about the Bill of Rights or to build universities for all those unemployed youths we see protesting the lack of opportunity.
Michael Metrinko, one of my Georgetown classmates and a fellow former Peace Corps volunteer, was working at the U.S. Embassy in Iran at the time it was seized and was the only one who spoke Farsi. He endured being a hostage for 444 days -- and then we learned nothing from his suffering. Now the whole Middle East in blowing up in the face of the U.S. and he warns, "We might find ourselves being on the wrong side of history again."
Uprisings have started in Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and Jordan and will spread throughout the corrupt Middle East. They have become viral and can't be stopped, and so we can't hedge our bets by saying we are with the people who must work with their governments (more like Mafia-style family-run operations, really) which will now all of a sudden be "responsive."
We basically have been killing the opponents of these corrupt governments whom we support to protect us from the illusionary
al-Qaida whose bombers, we know, come from Nigeria, the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
President Obama and Vice President Biden didn't get it, for both have been talking about Mubarak's government being more "responsive." Biden, known for his gaffes, even said publicly Mubarak "is not a dictator." In these parts, the canine metaphor is frequently used: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
And more to the point, there is no government but a man named Mubarak; even his son quit the country. The U.S. should just realize this guy is toast and encourage some new people to rise. Hopefully it is already doing this.
Revolutions are easily seized by people who really didn't start them, which is where Egypt finds itself right now. The decision we make regarding the displacement of Mubarak will be with us for a long time.
Freivalds is a Dubuque resident of Latvian descent. He is managing director of JFA Marketing, an international communications firm. His e-mail address is john@jfamarketing.com.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: February, 2011; Peace Corps Panama; Directory of Panama RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Panama RPCVs; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; Speaking Out; Diplomacy; Egypt
When this story was posted in February 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
| Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all. |
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: TH Online
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Panama; COS - Colombia; Speaking Out; Diplomacy; Egypt
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