The Kings We Crown

[Gerald]

UNTIL very recently, no one would have predicted that Barack Obama would be forcing foreign leaders from power with greater regularity than George W. Bush. The president maintains that the United States is not playing kingmaker, but is merely enabling people to choose their leaders. But history indicates that the president’s choice of a provisional leader may have a much greater impact on a country’s political future than the desires of its people.

Nowadays, the United States has great influence when it comes to selecting who rules between the collapse of an authoritarian regime and the holding of elections. American support put Mohamed Hussein Tantawi in charge of Egypt’s provisional government in February. Libya’s National Transitional Council and Yemen’s Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi are most likely next.

Unfortunately, we have repeatedly ruined transitions to democracy by backing provisional leaders who broke promises to govern virtuously and instead focused on staying in power and silencing their political opponents. Isaias Afwerki, whom Washington endorsed as head of Eritrea’s provisional government in 1991, went on to stifle dissent and obstruct democracy with such efficiency that he remains in power 20 years later. In 1999, the West supported Hashim Thaci as interim head of an autonomous Kosovo, only to watch him engage in ethnic cleansing and exploit his newfound power and prestige to win election as prime minister in 2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/op...ml?ref=opinion

Note: May 1. 2011

[Fish In The Water]

I'm looking at this in two different ways...

On the one hand it sends a strong message that these decisions need to be carefully weighed with an eye toward the long term consequences.

On the other hand, it seems a good sign that it doesn't always go to plan as this indicates the leader has considerable autonomy and is not merely a U.S. puppet.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Vendor

kingmaker

Brag's book!

w00+!!!!1!!

good one too... i need to get it signed

One slight problem with that article Vendor, it was the French who were dealing with Libya and it was the French who gave the recognition to its new alternative "government".

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

One slight problem with that article Vendor, it was the French who were dealing with Libya and it was the French who gave the recognition to its new alternative "government".

Hmm ... thanks for your vigilance, is of course changing, but I assume that the message arrived yet

[GoldenRivet]

The French are dealing with Libya.... clearly






the French were also dealing with Vietnam

[Gerald]

The French may soon deal with me also,

the French were also dealing with Vietnam

A perfect example of your government taking over king making from the French venture. How did them kings work out for ya and how expensive was your failed venture?

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

A perfect example of your government taking over king making from the French venture. How did them kings work out for ya and how expensive was your failed venture?

Here's some light reading on the subject: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel...gon/pent1.html

Better than Lunesta. I fell asleep after the second paragraph.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by krashkart

Here's some light reading on the subject: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel...gon/pent1.html

Better than Lunesta. I fell asleep after the second paragraph.