October 8th, 2008 by Matt

I was startled out of my debate-induced stupor last night with mention of the word “democracy” twice in quick succession. Both were by Senator Obama, and both related to Muslim countries outside the traditional Middle East, but nonetheless strategically vital–Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here are Obama’s comments on Pakistan:

“And the reason Pakistan — the popular opinion of America had diminished in Pakistan was because we were supporting a dictator, Musharraf, had given him $10 billion over seven years, and he had suspended civil liberties. We were not promoting democracy. This is the kind of policies that ultimately end up undermining our ability to fight the war on terrorism, and it will change when I’m president.”

Brokaw then posed a question on the words of a British military commander in Afghanistan, who said this week that we might have to settle for an “acceptable dictator” to regain some control over that country.  Obama responded:

“We’re also going to have to work with the Karzai government, and when I met with President Karzai, I was very clear that, ‘You are going to have to do better by your people in order for us to gain the popular support that’s necessary.’ I don’t think he has to be a dictator. And we want a democracy in Afghanistan. But we have to have a government that is responsive to the Afghan people, and, frankly, it’s just not responsive right now.”

It’s a sentiment we should keep in mind should a nascent Obama Doctrine begin taking shape in three and a half months.

Posted in Afghanistan, Democracy Promotion, Election 08, Pakistan, US foreign policy, US politics |