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**NeroASERCH** · 04-19-2010, 08:53 PM

Authoritarian governments are more reliable allies that's for sure. In as much as non EU states actually have allies and not merely trade partners. For instance, Iran's #1 trade partner today isn't China, it's Germany. The point though is the bald faced statement that promoting 'freedom' or whatnot is not in anyone's interest because Obama is afraid it will anger those foreign governments, which it will. It's just interesting to hear him say that. Similarly Obama refrained from anything that might be construed as any constructive support for Iran's "Green" protesters. Or Lebanon's Rose Revolution or Burma or Thailand, etc etc.

But yes, authoritarian governments are more stable allies. Hence Russian support of Cuba, Iranian support of Venezuela, Chinese support for North Korea and so on.

Ok, but the article also deals with Arab allies of America in the ME (Egypt and Jordan). And let's face it, Obama got into power campaigning on offering to be friends with countries which are enemies of the US, and in some countries with a strong anti-American sentiment (like Iran) publicly supporting democracy advocates may do more harm than good.

04-19-2010, 08:53 PM	#6
NeroASERCH Join Date Jul 2006 Posts 5,147 Senior Member	Authoritarian governments are more reliable allies that's for sure. In as much as non EU states actually have allies and not merely trade partners. For instance, Iran's #1 trade partner today isn't China, it's Germany. The point though is the bald faced statement that promoting 'freedom' or whatnot is not in anyone's interest because Obama is afraid it will anger those foreign governments, which it will. It's just interesting to hear him say that. Similarly Obama refrained from anything that might be construed as any constructive support for Iran's "Green" protesters. Or Lebanon's Rose Revolution or Burma or Thailand, etc etc. But yes, authoritarian governments are more stable allies. Hence Russian support of Cuba, Iranian support of Venezuela, Chinese support for North Korea and so on. Ok, but the article also deals with Arab allies of America in the ME (Egypt and Jordan). And let's face it, Obama got into power campaigning on offering to be friends with countries which are enemies of the US, and in some countries with a strong anti-American sentiment (like Iran) publicly supporting democracy advocates may do more harm than good.
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