The “Republican-American’s” arrogance and principle

Prague become the latest forum for the expression of the “Republican-American” arrogance this week as Bush was outlining and defining “the course of history” for the entire planet and indicating how the “communists” made a terrible mistake in interpreting the course of history, of the same planet to which Bush was referring to. He actually put the “Islamic extremist and radicals” as the new evils that wanted to make a world of their making. He was categorical in his flawed judgment and interpretation of world history. There is no wonder that some people understand Bush’s uncompromising division of the world as “free and unfree” as the West and the Rest; the Christian and the Heathen.

In the Prague speech, Bush reiterated the “Republican-American” rhetoric of adherence to “principles, ideals and values” of the “free world.” Meanwhile the fact is that the only principle the U.S administration knows is that there is no principle in international politics except the principle of promoting national interest [it can be read as American big business interest] at the cost of any thing and everything. Paxa Americana. What ideals does the Bush administration know? Well, since he and most of his advisors are Christian preachers, though part timers, one may be tempted to think they embrace the ideals of Jesus Christ. That is wrong. Their ideal is an island material prosperity at the cost of the environment and the lives of billions. Similarly, it is no wonder that when the word “value” comes out of them I understand they mean “monetary value.”

The American President would have been the “Honest Man” of the year if he said, “Because we are primarily a country with national interests, we employ double standard, often become arrogant, view an American more important than a million Iraqis or Somalis, care pretty much more for the big businesses than the earth, and think the end for our people justifies whatever means we employ any where on the globe. Any thing aside from our national interest is secondary, American hobby.”

I am not sure how long the American administration continues on assuming a unipolar international context and the consequent arbitrary unilateralism. To add injury the American’s unipolar assumption of the international system is not only in respect to military and economic might, but also ideology. They say it is only and only liberalism that works for all. This western ideology is given universal spirit by the “Republican-American” regardless of the particular social, historical, economical and geographic context of different parts of the world. Their version and definition of freedom lack a grasp of the totality of the concept, but they insist everyone accept it.

They profess a belief in dialogue, the basic trait of rational species and also of a truly liberal system. However, you can see them no where in the dialogue table except drafting resolutions of sanctions, showing off their military, presaging a bitter consequence, on any party that takes different course and preparing plans for assassinations and orchestrating unpopular regime change. The best they can do is to force others in to the dialogue table.

Why is it difficult for the Americans to sit on the dialogue table with other civilizations and world outlooks? Why is it impossible for the Bush administration to hold talks with Al Qaeda? It is simply because of the power they think they have. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely, right? It is the absolute corruption of American power expressed in the form of arrogance that is becoming a constant source for most of the world problems including the tapering of ozone layer. America is not only making nuisance for this generation but also to the forthcoming ones as it is the single major country destroying our earth and refusing to take necessary measures to stop the destruction.

Their assumption of the human species is based on the double standard that the Americans and few others are responsible and rational while the rest are irresponsible and irrational species. One can see this subtle assumption and conviction, of the Americans, in the stand off over nuclear enrichment program. Bush is practically telling North Koreans and Iranians (wonderful people as he calls them) that they are not responsible and rational enough to clutch in to nuclear possession but the Americans are.
Wise men say, arrogance is the elder brother of failure and the history of the rise and fall of empires prove this wisdom correct.

Kassahun Addis is an independent analyst of politics in the Horn. He can be reached at kassax@gmail.com