"Our SOB"

Watching the events in Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Yemen, I am reminded of a story that dates back to the Truman administration. In a discussion of a dictator somewhere, an advisor commented that the man in questions was an DOB.. Truman purportedly replied, "Yes, but he's our SOB."

That sums up what is wrong about American Foreign policy. It was wrong during the cold war, and now that the cold war has ended, it is even more wrong.

An SOB is generally considered (as a National leader) to be autocratic, dictatorial, uncaring about human rights or the welfare of his people.

By supporting leaders who can be described in this fashion, the US is setting ourselves up for more trouble with the country in the future. Eventually, events will topple or remove that leader. What then? The bulk of the populace does NOT view the US as a friend. We supported and propped up the leader they have now deposed. As far as the general population of the country is concerned, the US does not care about human rights, education, the rights of women or minorities, or even spurring the democratic process.

Mubarek came to power 30 years ago. For the first ten years, the US could believe his statements that his was a democratic government. But when the same individual wins election after election, the US just might want to start requesting evidence that the country is a democracy.

Oddly enough, the limit of two terms on the president in this country has prevented (since FDR) the rise of a strong-man rule. There have been two-term presidents since FDR who might have been lured into running for a third term.

So, when the US is evaluating the quality of the democratic ideals esposed abroad, one of the issues we need to be aware of is whether there is a limit on the number of terms an executive can serve.

It won't solve the problem, but if ther US were to become a large bit more cautious about our support for the SOBs of this world, in the long run, we would be better preceived by the people they rule.