Why Keep Losing By Backing Losers?

Hong Kong, February 9. New Year is a time to ask questions and make realistic resolutions. Looking back over the geopolitical events of last year, I reflected on the front page headlines, editorials and accolades the recent death of Madam Chiang Kai-shek generated worldwide, especially in U.S. publications and television broadcasts while American soldiers were being killed in Iraq. The episode was a stark millennium reminder that American foreign policy is a mother lode of history lessons of America losing by backing losers.

The continued U.S. support of Taiwan, the Houses of Saud and Mubarek and rejection of Iran are the latest misguided losing foreign policies on the rich historic trail of protected corrupt blood stained crowns and medals.

Isolationist America was a reluctant participant in both World Wars, and a late bloomer in coming to terms with its power and the reality of contemporary international relations. It behaves like an arrogant spoiled teenager when compared to the civilizations and history of the countries and people it repeatedly slights to it’s own detriment. China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran have memories of insultss that are multi-generational rather than limited to the span of the latest hot music video or hip cultural fashion.

After oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938, and before it entered World War II, America became a careful planner with the British on how it could assist the allied war effort with “Lend Lease” schemes in exchange for the oil discovered in Britain’s Middle East Mandates. The arrangement was sealed when President Franklin D. Roosevelt met Saudi King Abdul Aziz in 1945 in Egypt on a U.S. aircraft carrier decked with Bedouin favored carpets to guarantee the security of the House of Saud in exchange for Saudi oil. President Harry Truman later confirmed the arrangement in 1950. The U.S.-Saudi oil for protection spawned Osama bin-Laden and the 15 Saudi 911 kamikazi bombers.

America brought the House of Pavlavi to power in Iran for the same oily reason. In 1953 America toppled the popular democratic government of Mohammed Mossadeq, a western educated, charismatic leader poised to lead Iran to become the first truly Muslim democracy under the country’s 1906 constitution. He was ousted by a CIA-run coup because he nationalized the country's oil industry, then controlled by American and British companies, and replaced by the puppet Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Had democracy been allowed to flourish in Iran without the intervention of petro-politics, little known clerics such the Ayatollah Khomeni would have remained unknown. It was only a matter of time before a new generation oppressed by the Shah’s repressive regime would rise up in rebellion and adopt radical fundamentalist Islam as an alternative. America’s refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Iran only perpetuates the resentment and schism.

The same holds true for the oppressed younger generations in Egypt where the U.S. keeps in power the repressive regime of the House of Mubarek.

Misconceived U.S. foreign policy is not only perpetuated in Muslim countries, but in Asia and Latin America. China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, Chile, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and next door in Cuba.

In China, Mao Tse-tung fought alongside the U.S. forces there against Japan and then wanted President Franklin Roosevelt and the American government to establish diplomatic relations with his new government. His communications to the state department were conveniently misplaced as the pro-Chiang Kai-shek China lobby in the department decided unilaterally to continue supporting Chiang Kai-shek. Unfortunately for Mao and America, the anti-communist pro-Taiwan lobby prevailed and have dominated America’s foreign policy towards China since the inception of the People's Republic. The Taiwan president’s “stopover” visits to America are annual reminders of the effectiveness of the Taiwan lobby.

Ho Chi Minh, like Mao, wanted to ally himself with the U.S. to fight the Japanese occupation during World War II and did. Like Mao, however, he was also abandoned and betrayed by the U.S. after Japan surrendered. Had the U.S. supported Uncle Ho as President Franklin Roosevelt advocated, the Vietnam War could have been avoided.U.S. foreign policy that rejects political leaders because they are "commies" and its unwavering support of repressive corrupt regimes because of their oil or blind financial and political support of America has done more real harm in the long run to American foreign policy than any short term illusory political electoral gains. Madam Chiang Kai-shek’s recent passing was a poignant reminder. Why is America still supporting Taiwan, and the Houses of Saud and Mubarek? Isn’t it time for a geopolitical New Years resolution to stop losing geopolitical goodwill by backing losers?

Contact Peter at peter@custommaidbook.com