Perennial Blunders of the American Foreign Policy

Recently, an American congressional group went to Israel on a junket sponsored by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to investigate the recent turn of events in the Middle East. It is a well-known fact that AIPAC is the most influential lobby in Washington D.C. It also plays an important role in shaping American foreign policy in the Middle East in favor of Israel. The congressional group who visited Israel was led by Eric Cantor, the leader of the Republican party in the House, who is well known as an outspoken Jewish Zionist and extreme supporter of the state of Israel.

It was reported in the Jerusalem Post newspaper that Mr. Cantor was very concerned about the recent changes that took place in Egypt, which led to the removal of Hosni Mubarak’s regime. He further pointed out that he is concerned about the possibility of the Muslim Brotherhood winning a majority in the upcoming election (November 2011). Such a possibility will threaten the American Israeli interests in the Middle East region.

Such a public statement by an American political leader during a trip to Israel is a foolish act that is in violation of international law, which prevents foreign interference in any state’s internal affairs. Furthermore, such acts are also in violation of the basic principles of democracy, which the U.S. keeps talking about.

Nevertheless, the U.S. government only pays lip service to the implementation of democracy abroad, especially when it contradicts its basic interests. It is also a well-known fact that the U.S. government helped to remove freely and democratically elected regimes in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The U.S. government has been consistent in removing regimes that create problems for their national interest, irrespective of how that interested is defined.

The recent spring uprising in the Arab world caught the American government by surprise, despite the fact that they were fully aware of the political corruption, lack of democracy and accountability, poverty and high unemployment rates, especially among the young generation.

Despite all of its ill foreign policy, especially in the Arab world, over the past 50-60 years, the U.S. failed to learn a lesson that might give them more credibility in the future. For example, the U.S. government’s high officials, such as the secretary of state and others, have been in contact with high officials from the Muslim Brotherhood, to see where they stand in terms of their views on the U.S.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the largest organized political group in Egypt. Many political analysts in Egypt have predicted that they might get at least 30-40% of the seats in the upcoming parliament election (November 2011). Again, such an approach by U.S. government officials is in violation of Egyptian law and is considered interference in Egypt’s political affairs.

Also, the U.S. recently committed a blunder, by giving nearly $64 million to various organizations in Egypt without consulting with the Egyptian government. However the Egyptian government was outraged at the financial support given to various organizations under the rationale of supporting democracy.

The Egyptian prime minister Dr. I. Sharaf stated publicly that the distribution of funds to various Egyptian organizations without permission from the Egyptian government is in violation of Egyptian law. He further stated that he is going to reveal the names of the organizations that take money form the American “AID” agency. (www.alwafd.org, 8/16/2011).

It is unfortunate that the U.S> government continues to commit one blunder after another as part of its foreign policy, which is being influenced by lobbyists and interest groups in contradiction with its national interest.

A recent survey of Egyptian views of the U.S. showed that 95% of the Egyptian public views the U.S. negatively.