23 Sep, 2012
Another Blistering Blast by China: US Suffers ‘Arab Winter’
September 20, 2012 – The American film “Innocence of Muslims” has triggered a wave of anti-US protests across the Middle East, which is spreading quickly to other regions. It reveals flaws of the U.S. Mideast policy and the Arab spring is turning into the Arab winter.
The anti-US protests started in Benghazi, the cradle of Libya’s 2011 revolution. The death of U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens in Benghazi is extremely ironic. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cannot help wondering, “How could this happen in a country we helped liberate, in a city we saved from destruction?”
Confusion of Americans results from their ignorance about Islamic civilization and deeply rooted prejudice and discrimination. Although the anti-Islam film has already sparked the strong condemnation against the United States, Clinton still defended it in the name of U.S. freedom of speech.
The Obama administration has always taken two-sided policies in the Middle East. After reflecting on the dire consequences of the Bush administration’s unilateral policies, the Obama administration has held a friendlier attitude toward greater Middle East countries. However, the U.S. Mideast policy is still mainly based on its biased value judgments and so-called US-led democracy project, which determines the hegemonic mentality of the United States.
The global wave of anti-US protests has its deep roots in history, culture, religion and politics. The anti-Islam film is nothing but the last straw. Although the Obama administration has made efforts to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the wounds are difficult to heal. The West Asian and North African countries suffer from internal conflicts and interference of American democracy.
The United States seems to show restraint in the use of force on the surface while it secretly increases military presence in the region, leading to heavy civilian casualties. Furthermore, the U.S. desecration of Islamism has resulted in hatred and grudge of Islamic countries, which makes the United States trapped in the clash of civilizations.
The Obama administration is facing the most serious diplomatic crisis in the election year. Domestically, President Obama’s Mideast policy is attacked by the Republican Party. Internationally, the Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly demanded the United States set clear “red lines” for Iran over its nuclear program. The wave of anti-US protests will rise higher if the Obama administration continues to be partial to Israel.
The U.S. policy in Middle East has proved to be a failure. Standing at the crossroads, the United States is facing tough decisions amid dismay and confusion.
Read the Chinese version: 美国遭遇“阿拉伯之冬”, source: People’s Daily, author: Zhong Sheng
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