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Explanation: As the Cold War kicked into full swing, the USA developed a nasty habit of backing incredibly brutal dictators because they weren't painted red.
As one might expect, the real losers in this 'game' of politiking was neither the USA nor USSR, but the people in developing countries who got to 'enjoy' the dictator tug-of-war between the superpowers.
"Backing" sells that whole story real short, doesn't it?
Does it?
It wasn't usually just the US officially saying they supported a person, but secret and not secret active subversion of free and fair elections and overthrow of elected governments.
"Backing" usually implies more than words.
Most of the world's countries during the Cold War were newly formed and generally not very democratic - while the US did overthrow several democratically elected governments - Mossadegh's in Iran; Arbenz in Guatemala and Goulart in Brazil - the vast majority of situations were of the US choosing to back already-established strongmen and factions, backing new strongmen and factions against old strongmen, or else offering their support to such autocrats who were 'feeling out' the offers of the US and USSR.
While the CIA has a reputation for having their grubby hands in every pot, the fact of the matter is that even with Cold War era funding, the CIA had limited resources with which to perform their misdeeds, and often very limited intel. Reading Cold War histories, one is shocked by how commonly the CIA is caught off-guard by some coup or change in orientation - because they're pouring their resources into trying to assassinate Castro for the millionth time, or fucking up a coup elsewhere and ignoring the reports from the local US embassy.
Totally fair - apologies if I appeared snarky. I would have used harsher language, but yours is not incorrect.
No worries. If it's just that you want to highlight how fucking shitty the US's conduct was, I'm 100% with you. I just don't want to see the issue reduced to "Active US and USSR, passive victims" - the Cold War was extremely diplomatically dynamic, and the two superpowers themselves often could barely keep up with developments in the rapidly decolonizing post-WW2 world. I considered "backing" the most applicable term because the tug-of-war between the superpowers was largely played out by, well, backing pre-existing factions and strongmen. The Cold War in most countries happened very much in the context of national politics, not just the Great Power politics of the two big names.
Perry doesn't deserve being associated with evil 😤
Gotta pick between a dictatorship who favors you or a dictatorship who opposes you and allies with another larger dictatorship, clear choice imo.
Thats why US Military support of Israel is a nonpartisan issue, anybody in government can see we needed them for the middle eastern proxy war with Iran, Russia, China. Although it should be stated I think the US Military woulf be justified to invade Israel and depose Netanyahu, perhaps even celebrated for it.
Yes, we clearly need Israel, because we have no allies in the Middle East. I mean, it would be really ridiculous if we backed Israel despite having Jordan, Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, all much bigger power players and, though this is damnation by faint praise, with far less history of spitting in our face and selling our military secrets to our enemies.
I don't consider Saudi Arabia friendly with the USA, more like completely transactional. The USA declined to sell missiles to the Saudis in the 80s while China agreed to sell $3.5 Bn USD equivalent non-inflation-adjusted. I think almost all of the perpetrators of 9/11 were eventually identified as Saudis. They're ideologically opposed to the USA in every way but they're economically competing with Russia at the same time. The saudis have supplied the oil and petrochemical products needed for China's rapid development, and in turn China has sold textiles and machinery to the Saudis, and more recently China has announced cooperation with their 2030 Vision and it's a prime target for the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Digital Silk Road initiative.
They're not even neutral, they're actively on the eastern side of the cold war, rn.
And I think Turkey under Erdogan is probably even worse, since he's so chummy with Putin.
Egypt with the Houthis is in the middle of a political uprising that will shape the country's future, very likely to be more hostile to Europe and the USA for generations to come.
Jordan is cool, I like Jordan, but similarly to Egypt it's governed my multiple opposing factions.
I'm sure to many people in government Israel seems more like an extension of the west, something they raised themselves. I can only hope soon that we realize it's rebelious phase is leading to violence and that we need immediate harsh remediation to set them on the right track.
I don’t consider Saudi Arabia friendly with the USA, more like completely transactional.
That's 90% of international politics.
The saudis have supplied the oil and petrochemical products needed for China’s rapid development, and in turn China has sold textiles and machinery to the Saudis,
Bruh, we've sold oil and petrochemical products to China and bought Chinese goods. Are we no longer allied with ourselves?
And I think Turkey under Erdogan is probably even worse, since he’s so chummy with Putin.
... this the same Turkiye under Erdogan who shot down a Russian jet for trespassing into Turkish airspace? The same Turkiye which has repeatedly humiliated Putin diplomatically just for domestic nut-flexing points? The same Turkiye which is a member of fucking NATO?
Egypt with the Houthis is in the middle of a political uprising that will shape the country’s future, very likely to be more hostile to Europe and the USA for generations to come.
...
... what?
The Houthis are a national group with little reach outside of Yemen, and Egypt has contributed ships to combating Houthi raids in international waters.
Jordan is cool, I like Jordan, but similarly to Egypt it’s governed my multiple opposing factions.
Jordan has long been an overwhelmingly dependable ally - far more than Israel.
I’m sure to many people in government Israel seems more like an extension of the west, something they raised themselves. I can only hope soon that we realize it’s rebelious phase is leading to violence and that we need immediate harsh remediation to set them on the right track.
People in government bootlick Israel because Israel has established itself as a major player in domestic US politics since the 1980s. People in government bootlick Israel because not supporting Israel is a death sentence for nearly any American politician's career, not because they all have brilliant IR takes. Any US politician who turns against Israel finds that their primary, and then general, opponent suddenly is flush with support from AIPAC, and accusations of 'antisemitism' flood the discourse.
Israel supports the continuation of the Russian presence in Syria. Israel is not our ally in any theoretical cold war in the Middle East.
Oh so the bits about them buying chinese weaponry for ages and being part of China's expansion plans aren't worth quoting? Okay. Thats cool. I guess Saudis are truly 100% aligned with the USA against Russia and China.
The vast majority of the Saudi arsenal is American, from head to toe. Buying Chinese missiles is a footnote in comparison.
I can only hope soon that we realize it's rebelious phase is leading to violence and that we need immediate harsh remediation to set them on the right track.
"Rebellious phase" you... you think this started with Netanyahu? Worse, you think this will end with Netanyahu? The history of Israel is a history of Israeli oppression (up to and including murder and ethnic cleansing) of Palestinians.
Not-so-fun fact! AIPAC was formed to combat the PR disaster of an Israeli massacre of Palestinian civilians...
... in the 1950s.
It took a few decades for them to really root themselves in US politics, but by God did they control the national narrative by the 2000s.
Rabin had them on the right track, thats why Netanyahu's camp had him killed.
What exactly do you propose if not forcing Israel to reform itself?
Maybe if the us didnt come toppling governments because they wouldnt sell us their oil for cheap... they might consider being allies.
No arguments from me on that one.
