‘If al-Qaeda is against the oppression, I am with them’
Former Latterly correspondent Laura Kasinof, in her book Don’t Be Afraid of the Bullets, talks to a couple of Yemeni activists in 2011, during the very early days of the Arab Spring. “America is a democracy, but when it comes to the Arab world, America supports oppressors,” one of them said. “America protects these countries until they blow up.”
He didn’t specify which dictators he was referring to. Presumably he had in mind Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Yemen’s president at the time, Ali Abdullah Saleh. All three men lost their jobs during the popular uprisings, and all three had enjoyed U.S. support in one form or another.
Fast-forward to Saturday. Donald Trump spoke by phone with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, a guy who likes to call people “sons of whores,” brags about murdering people, and encourages his police officers and regular citizens to kill drug addicts. More than 7,000 people have been killed. Here’s how the White House itself described the Trump-Duterte conversation:
“It was a very friendly conversation, in which the two leaders discussed the concerns of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regarding regional security, including the threat posed by North Korea. They also discussed the fact that the Philippine government is fighting very hard to rid its country of drugs, a scourge that affects many countries throughout the world. President Trump enjoyed the conversation. … President Trump also invited President Duterte to the White House to discuss the importance of the the United States-Philippines alliance, which is now heading in a very positive direction.”
Two days later, Trump told Bloomberg “I would absolutely, I would be honored” to meet with North Korea’s despot Kim Jong-un “if it’s under the, again, under the right circumstances.” He has also commended Egypt’s new dictator, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and fawned over Vladimir Putin. This is all old news.
Like a lot of things related to this administration, the funding, the policies and the alliances haven’t changed much — the decorum has. (There is no decorum now.) The Philippines is a key U.S. ally against China and North Korea. That fact didn’t change under the Obama administration, and it hasn’t changed now. But while previous American presidents paid lip service to human rights, Trump (who advocated war crimes during his campaign and has turned war powers away from civilians and over to his generals) isn’t interested in that stuff.
To people in the Arab world and beyond, America’s new commander doesn’t look much different from its previous ones. This one is just more honest. But that’s not to say Trump’s behavior is harmless. As Kasinof spoke with those two young Yemenis back in 2011, one of them looked at her “gravely, wanting to drive his message home,” and said: “If al-Qaeda is against the oppression, I am with them. If America is against the oppression, I am with them.”
They were so sick of living under a dictator’s boot, they would fight with anyone who might help to free them. In 2011, they at least considered the possibility it could be America. I can’t imagine they’re still holding out that hope.
See you next time,
Ben
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Here’s another nice reader review of the spring issue:
I’m not sure ‘enjoy’ is the right word for my whole body response to this publication… I was moved by the articles — by the photographs! — in a way that I have never been moved by anything in a magazine anywhere at any point in time. This is a unique and powerful vehicle, a treasure to share… I cannot express enough thanks to you, to the writers, to the photographers! I stand in amazement and most sincere appreciation.
