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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Jul 05 2011 - 07:54:20 EDT
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20110705_Inquirer_Editorial__Choosing_our_friends.html
Posted on Tue, Jul. 5, 2011
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20110705_Inquirer_Editorial__Choosing_our_friends.html
Inquirer
Editorial: Choosing our friends
Posted on Tue, Jul. 5, 2011
Recent arrests of Ethiopian journalists who dared criticize their repressive
goverment shine a light on the apparent hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy
during the "war on terror."
During the Cold War, Americans were more resigned to a foreign policy that
seemed based on the adage, an enemy of my enemy is my friend. Prior to the
collapse of the Soviet Union, people were more willing to believe that it
was necessary to tie our country to despicable regimes in Latin America,
Asia, and Africa to keep them from turning communist.
Turn the pages to now, though, and many Americans are questioning how their
nation can on one hand hail the democracy movement that has toppled despots
in Egypt and Tunisia, how it can aid rebels fighting Libya's maniacal
leader, and encourage protesters in Syria, yet remain tied to other
repressive governments.
In that category Saudi Arabia comes immediately to mind, where women aren't
allowed to drive and fear of brutal reprisals keeps the population cowed.
But there are other examples, including Ethiopia, which benefits greatly
from its status as a U.S. ally in the worldwide war on terror.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in May celebrated his 20th year in
power. Democracy activists had used Facebook and other social-network sites
to plan a "Day of Rage" counterdemonstration to the state's official
rallies. But the protest never materialized. Too few heard about it, and too
many others were afraid.
Ethiopians have seen too many people who crossed Meles end up in prison.
Newspaper writer Reeyot Alemu was arrested June 20 in Addis Ababa. She
wasn't charged, but had criticized the ruling party and compared Meles with
Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Days before Alemu's arrest, Woubshet Taye, deputy editor of the Awramba
Times, was also arrested. Ethiopia's 2009 anti-terrorism law allows the
government to hold the journalists in prison for up to a month without
having to charge them with anything.
At least six journalists are being held under the overly broad
anti-terrorism law, which makes it a crime for media to "encourage" or
"provide moral support" to any group the government considers a terrorist
organization. That label seems to apply to any group that criticizes Meles.
Meles isn't the worst despot, and in many ways has been good for Ethiopia.
He has boosted the national economy by encouraging entrepreneurship, and his
plans for a $4 billion dam on the Nile, if the project survives objections
by Egypt and Sudan, will position Ethiopia for greater propserity.
But in a country where the outcome of elections is never in question, one
wouldn't confuse Meles for a democrat. That he typically pays only lip
service to democracy, however, means little to the United States, which
counts on him as an ally against terror. As such, Ethiopia receives millions
in U.S. military and other aid.
The reasoning of the Obama State Department is easily understood. Ethiopia's
neighbors in the Horn of Africa, Somalia and Eritrea, as well as Yemen on
the other side of the Gulf of Aden, are fertile ground for al-Qaeda and
likeminded terrorist groups that want to hurt the United States.
Still, one can't help but hope that the day will come soon when this country
means it when it says democracy will be the scale upon which it measures
friends.
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