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History Rhymes in the Middle East

By: Beregond (Diary)  |  January 28th, 2011 at 03:50 PM  | 

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Twain was reported to have said “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” He may not have said it, but it’s a useful metaphor.

For over thirty years we supported a dictator in the Middle East. He was our ally, and was important to our policies in the region. His military had a lot of US equipment, and benefited from American training.

A Republican president, trying to buy peace in the region, actually increased aid to the repressive regime. His Democratic successor made noises about human rights and democracy, which misled those who chafed under the rule of our ally into thinking that America would intervene on their side.

Like a pressure cooker with the safety valve tied down you had to know where to look to see the signs that it was more than just a small group of malcontents. Then the lid blew off. People who wanted freedom took to the streets. A banned Islamist group called the Muslim Brotherhood joined in. Many of the police and military started taking off their uniforms and joining the rebellion. A nation burned.

The year was 1979, the dictator was the Shah of Iran, and the president was Jimmy Carter.

Cross Posted from Beregond’s Bar.

COMMENTS

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  • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

    You were a few paragraphs short of a very good seque. I knew where you were going, so do a few others. Strieff as much as said so yesterday, but there was a lyrical quality I liked about the way you said it.

    Say more next time.

    • nessa
  • Tbone

    From the Daily Telegraph and no, you won’t find this on CNN. For the full story:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8289686/Egypt-protests-Americas-secret-backing-for-rebel-leaders-behind-uprising.html

    Excerpt below.

    “The American Embassy in Cairo helped a young dissident attend a US-sponsored summit for activists in New York, while working to keep his identity secret from Egyptian state police.

    On his return to Cairo in December 2008, the activist told US diplomats that an alliance of opposition groups had drawn up a plan to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak and install a democratic government in 2011.

    He has already been arrested by Egyptian security in connection with the demonstrations and his identity is being protected by The Daily Telegraph. ”

    Now will someone explain why Obama is backing the creation of a radical Islamic state in place of Egypt?

  • melissatx

    It appears that Egypt could go either way, secular or hanging with the Muslim Brotherhood…either way the only thing that unites them all is their hatred for Israel. Their anti-Western stance will just be another kick in the groin for the US.

    Thanks, Bam.

    Why didn’t he address this in his Cairo Infitada speech, circa 2009? Hmmmm, for the same reason we heard crickets chirping when Iran was boiling over.