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ANYONE following the pattern of the US foreign policy under the Bush administration will be baffled by the widely divergent trends that have surfaced during the last five years. President Bush began his journey by engaging China over the shooting down of an American plane which intruded into Chinese airspace. The US blew hot and cold over the issue. The heat gradually subsided. The turn-over of annual business between America and China is the largest in the world.
The bilateral trade between the countries has given China a great lead. This has become a sore point with America blaming China for undervaluing its currency and not allowing its labour force to have unions. Under-valued currency and cheap labour have made Chinese products inexpensive.
The United States then switched its attention to North Korea over its nuclear ambitions. North Korea refused to be cowed by the American threats.
The United States quit the scene allowing China and others countries in the region to come to an understanding with North Korea. The noise over North Korea nuclear issue has calmed down
The US attention was then focussed on Syria and Iran. Now, Palestine has been added to the list after Hammas gained a stunning electoral victory. Hammas is described as a terrorist political group. The European Union (EU), Israel and the US have threatened to cut off all political and economic ties with Palestine unless Hammas renounces the use of force and recognises Israel's sovereign entity. The US campaign on spreading democracy in the Middle East has suffered setbacks with radicals gaining power in Palestine and establishing ascendancy in Egypt and Iran. Syria was accused of meddling in the internal affairs of Lebanon.
President Asad has been implicated in the assassination of Rafik Harari, former prime minister of Lebanon. Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon under pressure from Washington and the UN. There is a lull in this front now.
The most astonishing recent revelations were, of course, the United States deciding to topple the government in Iran by lavishing funding various dissident groups there to rise in rebellion against the incumbent government. The US action will be in reprisal against Iran's stubborn refusal to put a cap on its nuclear programme. The United States has made its intention clear and made no attempts to hide it. The State Department has sought an additional funding of $75 billion from the Congress for the purpose. The US denied it was meddling in internal affairs of Iran or inciting the dissidents for a regime change. The fund will be channelised to groups in Iran for 'promotion of democracy'.
The United States recognises the fact that its global image particularly in the Muslim world has been badly bruised and tainted by its decision to invade Iraq on the fallacious assumptions of Baghdad stockpiling weapon of mass destruction (WMD) and Saddam had links with Al-Qaeda. It is now engaged in confidence-building measures with the non-Arab Muslim nations.
Besides creating a new position of Chief of Public Diplomacy with President Bush's long time confidante Karen Hughes taking the job, the State Department has been able to enlist the support of the Corporate America to help it improve its smeared image in the Muslim world.
American giants like Pfizer, Xerox Corp and United Parcel Service (UPS) have actively joined in the relief and rehabilitation programme both in tsunami-hit Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation, and earthquake-devasted Pakistan, the second largest Muslim nation and the closest US ally in its war against terrorism.
The US giants aiding relief works in disaster hit areas in Indonesia and Pakistan include Pfizer, Citigroup General Electric (GE), Coca Cola, Bristol-Meyers and Squibb. Pfizer contributed $12 million, Citigroup $6.0 million and GE $5.4 million. Corporate America has been encouraged by Karen Hughes to collaborate with government efforts.
In addition to disaster relief, the US companies are joining on reforestation projects, encourage students to study in the US and finance Arab satellite TV networks. Enrolment of foreign students in the US universities has dropped significantly due to stringent visa regulations. Students seeking higher education in engineering and science faculties need the vetting of FBI and CIA for entry into the US. The research works in the US universities has slowed down due to the same reason.
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