America's double standard on repressive regimes

[Dangerman]

I don't get the double standards American foreign policy states when it comes to ousting regimes...

The Taliban... No problem.
Saddam Hussein... No problem.
Hosni Mubarak... PROBLEM.

If he's America's enemy, it's ok. But if he's an ally, it's gotten complicated.

So much for the bastion of "freedom and democracy".

Comments?

[Mudoria]

1. Works the same for every other world power..... next!

[BeFree]

2. We are THE empire

We are above the law, so we can do whatever we want. But it won't last.

[Thrustin]

3. It is our government's responsibility to look out for our best interests

An orderly transition of power is better for our interests than the vacuum of power that would be left behind if Mubarak were to be ousted immediately.

[MineralMan]

4. America's foreign policy has long been based on economics,

not political systems. If a foreign government, particularly one that supplies valuable resources to our economy, is cooperative with our economic goals, we tend to support it, while looking the other way at that government's abuses of its own citizens. If it is not cooperative with those goals, we oppose it, regardless of its popularity with its citizens.

It's a fact of life, and is unlikely to change dramatically. Economic benefit is the higher good in the US government's point of view. It was ever thus.

[kenny blankenship]

5. Criteria: Will they take orders & support our foreign policy goals over the protest of their people?

Will they promote the interests of our banks and resource extraction firms and manufacturers over the interests of their people?

If Yes, then "FRIEND".
If No, then "ENEMY".