From Chinese Press

Turmoil in Middle East not result of oppressive autocracy

By Zhang Xinyi (peopledaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-25 13:51

The two countries restored full diplomatic relations in 2006, and the United States supported Libya's bid join the nonpermanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Libya once became a good partner in all kinds of U.S.-initiated cooperation, but that did not spare the North Africa nation the tragic lot of being a target of Western coalition. Why? The United States wanted to change, and Gaddafi did not keep up with its pace.

The United States implemented a triple-standard measure to make full use of the changing Middle East situation and consolidate its own strategic goal. For the pro-America republics, such as Egypt, the United States hoped the authorities would answer the people's call to end Mubarak's long-time rule. For the pro-America monarchies, the United States needed to maintain the status quo because of oil interests and the potentially volatile situation in Iran. In those anti-U.S. countries, such as Iran and Syria, the United States would definitely agitate anti-government protests to trigger change.

The United States launched a propaganda campaign. the Persian service of Voice and America (VOA), "Tomorrow Radio" and "Free Radio" have done whatever they can to advocate mass protests in Iran. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton literally sits on the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees all these anti-Iran Persian radio programs. In the similar case, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also started their campaign with Persian-language programs.

Bahrain is a country that the United States cannot afford to target because it is crucial to forging an alliance with Saudi Arabia and attacking Iran. If no substantial changes happened in Bahrain, the United States' posture of supporting democracy is merely a pretext to act in its own interests.