U.S. Government Not Taking Sides in Tunisia

In an interview with the Saudi network al-Arabiya during her trip to the region, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the United States is not taking sides between the authoritarian regime in Tunis (a client, not ally, but client of the United States) and the civilian demonstrators who have taken to the streets for nearly a month now in protest over economic stagnation, corruption and the oft-violent silencing of dissent.

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One can, of course, understand American impartiality. For starters, the United States has a long record of not taking sides in any foreign matter. Just look at America's even-handed policy toward Israel and Palestine. Or Clinton's own words to the Gulf region in her aforementioned recent visit where she did not take sides against Iran and other nations in the Gulf. So it makes perfect sense and is consistent with America's neutral posture.

And the United States does not intervene in domestic affairs as well as was exhibited in June 2009 when the United States did not comment on Iran's repression of dissident protesters.

Furthermore, there is also the question of which side to support? Tunisian demonstrators claim they want a decent life and freedom, but the Tunisian regime accuses them of being foreign pawns and terrorists. It is hard to know which side to believe.

It truly is an equal situation. On the one hand the regime has killed dozens on unarmed demonstrators, mostly youth, and is notorious for its closed political system; and it also a vociferous censor of media and the internet and makes Top10 lists in that regard, but the poor regime also suffered an attack recently by the Anonymous hackers organization in support of Tunisian demonstrators after the regime hacked into the e-mail and Facebook accounts of dissidents:

State Department spokesman: "We’re also concerned, as part of this, over hacking activity that has occurred associated with various social media sites and websites. Now, this can be – come from many different directions. There have been a number of cyber intrusions, including attacks on the Government of Tunisia’s websites."

You see? The Tunisian regime has also suffered so much as its poor websites have been attacked. It is also a victim. The United States is just beside itself in agony because the regime has been so unfairly maligned. Just like the United States was quick to offer words of sympathy to the Iranian president after Iranian dissidents hurled insults that hurt his feelings.

Isn't American foreign policy just the reflection of the highest ideals of freedom, justice and consistency?