The US Involvement in the Arab Spring

The mass of people who entered into action across the Arab region encompass a wide range of social issues that are affected to various degrees by elements of: lack of economic growth, massive unemployment (the highest average rate of all world regions), widespread endemic corruption, huge social inequalities, despotic governments void of democratic legitimacy, citizens treated poorly, the list goes on and on. For decades, the United States has pursued interest throughout the Middle East, and particularly the Arab Springs. Since 2011, due to countering terrorism, acquiring oil, securing the safety of a region, or stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, the United States has always pursued interest in the Middle East and particularly Egypt, Syria, and Libya.

EGYPT

Ever since the revolution in Egypt, the United States leverage has continued to weaken. For once, the United States was criticized for not doing enough, and this seems to reflect the United States attempt to be neutral in a highly polarized country. “Almost as soon as the United States was finished in Tunisia, they had even bigger problems on their hands with the protests in Egypt”. By trying to please everyone, President Obama has done the exact opposite. Egypt has a growing widespread anti-American sentiment. The United States declining position of power in Egypt is part of a bigger regional trend in the wake of the Arab Spring. "America has lost the predictability of friends like Mubarak," (Sami Alfaraj, CBS News)

Mubarak’s relations with the US haven’t been the friendliest.  “Under Mubarak, Egypt publicly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan and especially the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but allowed the United States to use the Suez Canal and Egyptian airspace to support operations in these theaters”. (CBS News) Clearly Mubarak was not stable enough neither to make a clear decision nor to pick a side with the US. Since Obama’s regime the funding for Mubarak was still happening many Egyptians said, “It was a bribe to Egypt to not confront Israel”. It is clear many Egyptians knew what the United States involvement was with Egypt and after the uprising; many Egyptians were rejecting United States help because Egyptians felt like the United States was on Mubarak’s side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohJSZ_yGfWY

SYRIA

President Obama and the White House Administration threatened the Syrian revolution quite poorly as well. “Opposition the revolution against President Bashar Al Assad stems largely from the belief that it was instigated, and is being orchestrated, by the United States.”(Sharif Al Nashahibi) The majority of Obama’s support for the opposition was mainly verbal while lacking on the material aid side. To no surprise, this caused even more resentment with the Syrians towards Obama’s United States policy. In actuality, such only provided the illusion of United States backing. Such led to the Syrian moderates losing ground and control to extremist forces. The United States created a self fulfilling prophecy by being reluctant to provide arms due to fear of strengthening radicals. “Thus, the US was deeply worried about the link between two anti-American nations and the growing friendship between them.” (Devon, Global Research) "Our ability to influence is limited today more than at any time in the last 35 years," (Bannerman, CBS News)

For Obama and the well being of the United States government, Assad’s perseverance is becoming a major problem. Syria’s major “roadblock” seems to be al-Qaida fighters and other extremist groups that won’t give up easily. Although, the government is hesitant to go with violence approach, due to most “talks” haven’t worked out yet. "It's too early to tell whether U.S. influence has diminished or indeed any change will happen because the Arab Spring is still in process,” (Nawf, CBS News) Many also believe that the idea of overthrowing Assad is a conspiracy by the US government. Therefore, “talks” have not done anything because Assad’s allies believe the US is trying to kick them out. “The Americans constantly denied that they had boots on the ground, yet, as usual, they were lying.” (Devon, Global Research)

LIBYA

The United States involvement with Libya did not get much attention until the death of three American diplomats. This caused tension between the two countries and Obama has been heavily criticized for not handling the tension that the relation properly. By this time many dictators around the Middle East have been overthrown and by having three US diplomats recently killed it appeared that a revolution in Libya was imminent. “The question that must first be asked is why the West even wanted to intervene in Libya. The answer is because Libya has Africa’s largest oil reserves and Western oil companies wanted access to them.” (US News)

Also, Obama didn’t find the necessity of using military throughout the Libyan revolution. Although, the US did support NATO forces in Libya, which eventually led to ending the revolution of Libya and dictator Gaddafi’s death. It can be seen as a victory for Libyans but many republican argue that Obama’s move made the United States government and Obama himself seem weak. “Col. Muammar Gaddafi, having never truly been a Western puppet, America launched a propaganda war to allow the US-NATO war machine to intervene in Libya on the grounds of “humanitarian intervention.”

"We are witnessing something that is transformative and whose full impact will play out over years, maybe decades, ahead” (Burns, CBS News)

Overall, the United States involvement in the Arab Spring has not been all that noticeable due to lack of military presence in some countries. Many might argue that the US was helping dictators so they could access oil as well as infiltrate troops and try to prevent future terrorist attacks. The actions or lack thereof of the United States do not always play out as intended, and often times it is only a matter of perception, but in this world perception is reality.

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Bibliography

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