Tashkent time is - 
04 March 2010
17:06 -
Did Barack Obama change his mind on Russia and the Muslim World?
During numerous pre-election appearances and presidential campaign speeches, Barack Obama outreached to Russia and the Muslim World. Shortly after the inauguration, he announced a "new era" in U.S. foreign relations with Russia and the Islamic World, suggesting new policies would be a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
According to Obama, who had sometime spoken openly sometimes by hinting, the Unites States is going to reduce of interest in issues like human rights violations and developing of democracy both in Russia and the Muslim World. Because of these statements, President Obama won plaudits from human rights abusers, including Uzbekistan. Obama administration’s intension of abandoning its plans for Missile Defense System in Europe was a proof of kowtowing to Russia.
Many democrats from former Soviet countries feared that Obama administration’s new policy might sacrifice human rights and democracy. As a matter of fact, more reasons to worry were based on late events.
But, where are we now a year after Obama’s new policy: Did something changed?
Firstly, plans of the US for Missile Defense shield in Europe is on the agenda again. What’s more, there are unconfirmed reports that some parts of Missile Defense System would be installed even in Romania and Bulgaria.
Secondly, West’s suggestions expressed by Afghan president Hamid Karzai about dialog and even possibility of cooperation have been rejected not only by the fanatic Talibans but by so-called moderate Talibans too. Actually, it was predictable. As our web site has repeatedly written, all Muslims of undeveloped world, especially Taliban, strongly believe that a state should be only Islamic. While this situation is not changed, it would be changed only as result of deep reforms in Islam, Islamic World wouldn’t accept the democracy and democratic values and of course wouldn’t accept the principles of secularism. The beginning of the offensive “Mushtarak“ operation in the south of Afghanistan has already proved that Obama’s administration had finally recognized this fact.
Even these two evidence show that the US has turned away from new approach to Russia and Islamic World. No doubt, as the result of this failure, Barack Obama will be forced to state officially that the promoting democracy and fighting against the human rights violations around the world remain as one of the main principles of the foreign policy of the United States. In the end, these goals were also stated in the declaration of the Istanbul summit OSCE in 1999.
Islam Karimov left Istanbul in a hurry in order to not signing the declaration to avoid controversy later. He can run, but he can’t hide.
According to Obama, who had sometime spoken openly sometimes by hinting, the Unites States is going to reduce of interest in issues like human rights violations and developing of democracy both in Russia and the Muslim World. Because of these statements, President Obama won plaudits from human rights abusers, including Uzbekistan. Obama administration’s intension of abandoning its plans for Missile Defense System in Europe was a proof of kowtowing to Russia.
Many democrats from former Soviet countries feared that Obama administration’s new policy might sacrifice human rights and democracy. As a matter of fact, more reasons to worry were based on late events.
But, where are we now a year after Obama’s new policy: Did something changed?
Firstly, plans of the US for Missile Defense shield in Europe is on the agenda again. What’s more, there are unconfirmed reports that some parts of Missile Defense System would be installed even in Romania and Bulgaria.
Secondly, West’s suggestions expressed by Afghan president Hamid Karzai about dialog and even possibility of cooperation have been rejected not only by the fanatic Talibans but by so-called moderate Talibans too. Actually, it was predictable. As our web site has repeatedly written, all Muslims of undeveloped world, especially Taliban, strongly believe that a state should be only Islamic. While this situation is not changed, it would be changed only as result of deep reforms in Islam, Islamic World wouldn’t accept the democracy and democratic values and of course wouldn’t accept the principles of secularism. The beginning of the offensive “Mushtarak“ operation in the south of Afghanistan has already proved that Obama’s administration had finally recognized this fact.
Even these two evidence show that the US has turned away from new approach to Russia and Islamic World. No doubt, as the result of this failure, Barack Obama will be forced to state officially that the promoting democracy and fighting against the human rights violations around the world remain as one of the main principles of the foreign policy of the United States. In the end, these goals were also stated in the declaration of the Istanbul summit OSCE in 1999.
Islam Karimov left Istanbul in a hurry in order to not signing the declaration to avoid controversy later. He can run, but he can’t hide.
