The “Not-So-Ugly” American
Those who demonize Americans (in keeping with the personification in Graham Greene’s “The Ugly American”) for the ills of the entire world tend to forget that US government policies do not accurately reflect either the character and/or wishes of the American public. US citizens tend to go along with the policies of their incumbent government even when they do not agree with them, the international perception responds by taking Americans to be either indifferent or insensitive to the problems of the world in pursuing policies which may not be good for the rest of the world. The disconnect between the average US citizen and international geo-politics is not because the ordinary American does not care, he simply knows very little of the world-at-large, an ignorance tailor-made for vested interest to exploit.
Republicans took control of both the Houses of US Congress in 1994, proceeding to make life difficult for the “Democrat” incumbent of the White House, President Bill Clinton. A consummate politician, Clinton barely survived the subsequent attempt at impeachment. In contrast George W Bush Jr has been dismissive in dealing not only with the Democrat leadership in the House but even those legislators of his own party who did not fall in line with his policies. Accommodating the aspirations of the Democrats to ensure he lasts out his remaining two years, his nemesis may well be recalcitrants within his own party. The Democrats struck immediately, Nancy Pelosi, slated to be the first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives, asked publicly for Donald Rumsfeld’s head on the first day after the elections, to his credit the normally stubborn US President signalled his readiness to compromise by immediately sacking him.
Becoming Director of the “Office of Economic Opportunity” in the Nixon Administration in 1969, Rumsfeld made Congressman Dick Cheney his Special Assistant. As Head of General Ford’s Presidential transition team in 1975 Cheney recommended Rumsfeld as his Secretary of Defence. During the Carter years both Rumsfeld and Cheney took employment with big business. Cheney returned to serve President George Bush Jr as Secretary of Defence from 1989 to 1992. Dick Cheney became Bush Jr’s running mate in 2000, bringing in Donald Rumsfeld when elected. Rumsfeld represented all that the world has come to hate about the US in the last 5 years. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger described him as the most ruthless man he knew, “a skilled full-time politician-bureaucrat in whom ambition, ability and substance fuse seamlessly,” unquote. A small clique of neo-conservatives (neo-cons) in the US Establishment took full control of US policy since 2001. In the 80s, a known neo-conservative hawk, Paul Wolfowitz, joined this select upwardly-mobile neo-con group, including Elliot Abrams, Richard Perle, Peter Rodman and present US Ambassador (and Czar) in Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad (a profound Pakistan-hater of Afghan origin). None among them has ever seen war in person, successfully avoiding (except for Khalilzad) Vietnam by getting draft deferment on one pretext or the other. Cheney getting student deferment in 1962 even though Cheney dropped out of Yale in 1961, than re-joined university to qualify for draft deferment in 1963 and 1964. He managed this in 1965 because of his marriage, in 1966, he became too old for the draft. One needs to study the psyche of those who have never heard a shot being fired in anger. Once they rise in rank and are safely out of harm’s way, they become bloodthirsty and send others to their deaths in a vain attempt to show the world what great “warriors” they were. Sacrificing Rumsfeld at the Democrat altar, President Bush is lobbying to save (as US Ambassador to the UN) John Bolton, the controversial appointment made over the objections of Congress when it was conveniently not in session. As President of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz, a very close friend of our PM Shaukat Aziz, may survive the cleaning of the stables.
The trend of US policies and the conduct of some of their officials over the past 5 years since 2001 is deeply disturbing, most un-American in character. Certainly not subscribing to the values Sisters Leo and Joan of Arc taught me in my early years. Americans are the most generous people in the world, even today their aid and outright grants dwarfs that of all the other countries. Their deep concern for the poor and downtrodden is well catalogued, their passion for fairplay and democratic traditions is an article of faith. With genuine sympathy for the victims of various disasters, their normal response is to be first with the mostest when it really matters. Can we forget the magnificent performance of the Chinook helicopters in Azad Kashmir and NWFP during the October Earthquake disaster? What other country in the world can compete with such large-heartedness? I for one would not be alive if the US Marine Detachment (in particular Sgt Frank Adair) in the US Consulate General in Calcutta had not given me help and refuge in July 1971. One does not (and should not) easily forget such things.
One of the recurring dangers in a democracy is the dictatorship of a minority, while leaders may be elected for what the public respects them for and expects out of them, a small clique of advisors with vested interest, usually those with commercial ties to big business, pursue the crass objectives of their mentors. The recent elections notwithstanding, George W Bush Jr remains popular among Americans because of his blunt plain speaking. He recognises his party has suffered enormously because of the neo-cons. Seeking to humble the Republicans, the Democrats may attempt to impeach Vice-President Dick Cheney, vulnerable because of the alleged unethical and fraudulent practices of Halliburton (of which he was once CEO) in Iraq.
There is no quick exit out of Iraq. The Democrat rhetoric notwithstanding, would they like to be labelled as “cut and run” legislators? The exit strategy probably cannot be as one retired US four-star general famously advised President Lyndon Johnson about Vietnam, “just declare victory and come home”. One believes that the “war against terrorism” will not abate, it will become more sophisticated, with greater emphasis on economic carrots instead of the use of the stick only. The interesting thing to note is that in the wake of the electoral setback Bush Sr’s people (anathema to the neo-cons) are back, beginning with Robert Gates, former CIA Chief, as replacement for Rumsfeld. More important James Baker III, is heading a bipartisan panel doing a “Study on Iraq”. The Bush family historically turns to loyalist Baker when in trouble.
What will this mean for Pakistan? The electoral balancing act in the US is good for Pakistan, and certainly for the US. Even though an unplanned exit from Iraq will usher in chaos, and may have a negative psychological impact about US power in the world. With the situation very complicated and with too many imponderables, future policy has to be carefully crafted. Changes in US tactics on the ground will mean less emphasis on military initiatives. In Afghanistan, the way to go will be to open a channel of communications with the Taliban and trying to separate them from Al-Qaeda, encouraging their entry into the world mainstream. The US should turn to economic initiatives, making businessmen and industrialists out of smugglers and hired guns, after all Islam supports commerce, and that is not a tongue-in-cheek remark! Earmarking 3-5 days worth of the funds spent in Iraq daily (i.e. US $ 1 billion plus) would make Pakistan’s Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into a dynamic Free Trade Zone, accomplishing peace much faster than precision-guided missiles (PGMs) and 500 lbs bomb from MQ-9 Reapers. The new political compulsions could mean Ms Benazir and the Sharifs may well return to the country, whether to power or not is a toss-up, pragmatic power-sharing could be a dream solution! General Pervez Musharraf could hang on to his uniform post-elections if destiny intervenes, and till now his luck has held.
The world will be a better place if for the foreseeable future with the return of the “not-so-ugly” Americans!
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