Remember Allende

The democratic Palestinian elections resulted in the transfer of political power to Hamas - a group recognized by the US as terrorist and therefore subject to the ongoing War on Terrorim. Already cries are heard for the group that rose to power and popularity because of its weaponry and militaristic stance to lay down its weapons and renounce violence before negotiations can begin. If an outsider to the situation like myself can see that as a surefire recipe for stagnation at best and deteriorating relations, the players in power across the globe have got to know as much.

Looking forward, this Bush Doctrine of spreading democracy in nations where the populace is largely Muslim and prefer theocratic governments could result in more election results out of line with American expectations. Should we be surprised if the end result is an exchange of dictatorial monarchies like the House of Saud for the Islamic regimes like the Shahs of Iran? There should come a point where the contradiction of democratic zeal and disagreement with the outcome meet head-on. Either the former is disengenuous or the latter is mistaken.

This reminds me of Salvador Allende in Chile, the first Communist leader voted into office in a democratic election.

Before he came to power, the US sought to oppose his candidacy. After he came to power, the US tried to create a coup. International criminal and Chilean tyrannical dictator Augusto Pinochet seized power and the US allowed him to remain in power from 1973-1990.

Anyhow, the link for me is the resistance of my nation to accept democratic processes in other nations when those results counter our expectations. I hope that history does not repeat itself, but there is reason to believe that the US will actively pursue means to remove Hamas from power in Palestine.