HOME	Where the World's Views of America Come into Focus

April 26, 2005

Original Article (English)

The "Rose Revolution," the "Orange Revolution,'' the "Lemon Revolution'' … Within a short period of time the political powers of Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan have changed color. The ruling parties in these countries failed in general elections while the opposition parties seized power.

The idea of "color revolutions'' dazzles people. But behind the scenes, the United States has been the indispensable operator, manipulating the internal politics of these countries, and ensuring the success of the "color revolutions.'' The U.S. government does not deny this, but openly shows its self-satisfaction. Knowledgeable people point out, however, that there are three deadly weak points in the "democratic offensive'' the Bush Administration has launched.

First, the motives of the Bush Administration's program to "export democracy'' are impure. The reason the U.S. government exports American democracy is not to let people of other countries live a rich life like Americans do, but for their own [geopolitical] interests.

This is heart of the double standard that the U.S. government often applies on the issue of democracy. The real purpose of the "color revolutions" of Central Asia is to foster pro-American regimes favored by the Bush Administration.

In so doing, the U.S. seeks to further encircle and deter Russia from its own geopolitical strategy, in order to prevent the latter from regaining its past successes.

The truth of the matter is that even if a regime is labeled autocratic by the United States, as long as that country is an out-and-out supporter of U.S. policy, Washington will turn a blind eye to it.

In short, if a situation is disadvantageous to U.S. interests, the U.S. government will suppress it, even if it is democratic. Samuel P. Huntington, a Professor at Harvard University and a well-known U.S. scholar, once pointed out: "Democracy needs promotion, but if the democracy bring Islamic fundamentalists to power, then that will be a horse of another color."

Second, the Bush administration's way of "exporting democracy'' is immoral. The method by which Washington exports democracy is in itself extremely autocratic. These include conspiracy, willful subversion, and financial bribery or even launching a war.

A few days ago the American army kidnapped two Iraqi women in Baghdad in order to force their male relatives to give themselves up, inexplicably explaining that they did to in order to "safeguard Iraq's democracy." In order to promote so-called democracy in the Middle East and Central Asia, the U.S. government has spent much treasure. The American Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan has said publicly that Washington has spent over $10 million on supporting the opposition in that country.

At the same time, the Bush Administration asked Congress to add over $20 to help opposition [groups in Central Asia] to rise in revolt against their government with the intent to bring down their governments. This is true out of the region, too. The U.S. uses its soft and hard to interfere with and destroy the normal electoral process in these countries. It would be hard to claim that elections like these are democratic or just. This forced and underhanded U.S. method of spreading "democracy'' is cut rate.

Third, dangerous consequences are in store for the Bush administration, as it "exports democracy'' by force. Historically, experience proves time and again that things and ideas exported by force may not be accepted and will likely wither away. In fact, "disseminating democracy'' has aggravated conflict, caused a split between nations in multinational institutions after the First World War [the League of Nations] and the Cold War. Today's chaotic situation in the Middle East and Central Asia seem to hint that America's "promotion of democracy'' has opened a Pandora's box, ushering in a new round of national conflict.

Perhaps indicating some second thoughts on this strategy, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research has drafted a paper with the thought-provoking topic, "Iraq, the Middle East and innovation: the domino won't work." I wonder whether this report affected those so busy promoting American democracy.

The "democratic offensive'' pursued by the Bush Administration shows the world that in fact, it is not American democracy that is lovable, but American arbitrariness that is hateful.