The United States has a peculiar way of defending and promoting freedom and democracy abroad, particularly in the increasingly turbulent Middle East.
To illustrate American foreign policy’s glaring double standard, let us compare two predominantly Muslim, oil-rich nations. These two nations are treated differently by the United States and most of its closest allies.
First, we’re told, “Nation A” is a friend and shares our common interests. What interests are those, exactly? We’ll get to that later. Nation A has been treated with fawning respect by administrations of both parties for more than a half-century. The regime is afforded all the privileges of America’s full economic and military support. We’ve even gone to war to defend one of its neighboring monarchs from invasion. Nation A enjoys close diplomatic relations and has modernized its domestic infrastructure, in part because of generous trade agreements which benefit many U.S. companies. Nation A’s top leaders are frequently invited to the White House as welcome guests. Our leaders openly embrace them.
“Nation B” gets the opposite treatment. It’s looked upon as an outlaw regime by the United States. Nation B even classified as part of an “Axis of Evil” in the world. Its citizens suffer significant hardships because of harsh economic sanctions aimed against the country’s elected leadership. Yet, these policies have produced little or no tangible progress since implemented during the late 1970s. Nation B has no foreign mission nor diplomatic relations with the U.S. When its leaders have made overtures towards American officials, those initiatives were either ignored or flat out rejected.
One would presume that Nation A and Nation B are quite different in politically and culturally. Well, indeed — they are different! But not in the ways you might expect:
NATION A (which enjoys full American support):
— Is governed by a privileged ruling class belonging to a so-called “royal family” which dates back hundreds of years, consisting of approximately 4,000 mostly corrupt monarchs and princes, all born into their privileged status and who have done little or nothing for those they presumably govern.
— Capital punishment is widely administered and frequently includes public beheadings and stoning, as prescribed by Sharia Law and fully authorized by the state.
— There is no freedom of speech, nor freedom of the press. Blasphemy (anything deemed offensive to Islam) is punishable by death.
— Dissent is non-existent.
— Finances extremist groups, including ISIS. LINK HERE
— Women are afforded no human rights nor protection in society. Women are forbidden from driving. Accordingly, many cannot hold regular jobs. Women must wear restrictive clothing while out in public. Women cannot ask for a divorce. These medieval practices are fully supported and enforced by the government.
— Has virtually no higher education system, nor does it allow women the opportunity to attend universities or enter many trades.
— Poor treatment and outright abuses of thousands of foreign workers have provoked protests from human rights groups. What amounts to slavery is said to still exist to this day.
— When American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the first Gulf War, in an effort to protect this grotesque kingdom from a foreign aggressor, its national laws prohibited the dead from being buried within its borders.
— Has yet to hold a truly democratic election, and has never held a free election with multiple political parties during its entire existence.
— Out of the 19 terrorists who were directly involved in the 9/11 attacks, 17 held passports from this country.
NATION B (which suffers from U.S.-led international sanctions and has no official diplomatic relations):
— Has a rich and proud culture dating back nearly 5,000 years which has made numerous contributions to mankind — most notably in math and science, art, textiles, and cuisine.
— It’s last truly free election (in 1953) resulted in a short-lived democracy, which the United States helped to overthrow in a secret military coup, brought about by the CIA after the elected leader sought more control and a bigger share of the country’s oil reserves for his citizens.
— Has held several elections in recent years, which picked those who are seated in what amounts to a parliamentary-style government. Had a rising moderate faction, made up mostly of younger people, which represents the country’s future.
— Grants women the same status as men in society, although religious practices are very strict. Women can drive. They attend school. They can work and pursue many of the same occupations as men.
— Opposes ISIS.
— Education is a top priority in society and is granted to both sexes. Overall, its population is one of the best-educated in the Muslim world.
— Has never invaded, nor launched a preemptive strike against any of its neighbors not shown any type of military aggression, yet is constantly accused of regional expansionism. Its only war in the past century was against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, which was backed and aided militarily by the United States.
— Out of the 19 terrorists who were involved in the 9/11 attacks, zero held passports from this country. None were born in this country. None were ever known to have visited this country.
You’ve probably guessed that Nation A is Saudi Arabia (it could also be the United Arab Emirates or Kuwait).
Nation B is Iran.
Clearly, Iran poses its share of problems. It’s no saint among many sinners. Iran often gets accused of supporting (mostly financing) acts of global terrorism. Yes, overwhelming evidence proves that the Iranian government has done some terrible things, although, given America’s long pattern of meddling in Iran’s domestic affairs, that hostility (even paranoia) is justified. Alas, for some reason when American planes and gunships kill innocent civilians, that’s classified as “nation-building.” Anyone remember Iran Air Flight 655 getting shot down by an American missile in 1988, killing all 290 innocents aboard, a “mistake” for which the U.S. has never apologized?
It’s absolutely appalling that America continues to call Saudi Arabia — which is corrupt to the core, racist, culturally backward, grossly misogynistic, as well as one of the most brutally repressive totalitarian regimes in the world which continues the barbarian practice of cutting off people’s heads — a trusted “friend.” Meanwhile, Iran and its people are unmercifully punished. Our influence in Saudi Arabian politics and culture has been virtually nil, while all the sanctions against Iran have done is make that regime more determined to flex its might wherever it can.
Let’s remember all this as the disgraceful members of the U.S. Congress and Senate do all they can to stop the Iran nuclear deal which is now in the works, and is supported by just about everyone in the world except Israeli hard-liners, the American Christian Right, Obama haters, and our gutless elected officials tethered to a leash.
The true villain of human rights and freedom in the Middle East isn’t so much Iran, although that regime in its current state should not be dismissed. The real bad guy for those forced to endure living in such a sick society is Saudi Arabia, and its enabler — the United States, which touts democracy and freedom throughout the region and then props up monarchies still stuck in the Middle Ages, except for the fleets of Rolls Royces parked inside their garages.
Unlike Iran, Saudi Arabia is one of the worst regimes in the world. In Iran, at least women can drive a car, pursue a career, sue for divorce when victims of domestic violence, and walk-in public without being stoned to death.
So, which nation are we supporting in the Middle East again?