Posted By: Nick
I often disagree with Thomas Friedman, but his column in Wednesday’s NYTimes is fantastic. Using the Security Council vote on Zimbabwe as an example, he points out that a world with a weaker America may not be the place that many countries think it will be.
Polls tell us how China is now more popular in Asia than America and how few Europeans say they identify with the United States. I am sure there is truth to these polls…. But America is not and never has been just about those things, which is why I also find some of these poll results self-indulgent, knee-jerk and borderline silly. Friday’s vote at the U.N. on Zimbabwe reminded me why. Maybe Asians, Europeans, Latin Americans and Africans don’t like a world of too much American power — “Mr. Big” got a little too big for them. But how would they like a world of too little American power?
Not very much, Friedman claims. And I think he’s right. Afterall what are the alternative powers?
Russia, though nowhere near its USSR strength, is still the world’s largest single nation geographically. It has significant influence throughout the world: it has a large economy, large natural resource reserves, a permanent Security Council seat, and a massive military.
China is the worlds largest nation (population). Though still run by the Communist Party, it is essentially a capitalist nation run by an authoritarian single party. It’s massive population, military, and economy give it major influence in world affairs. China also has a permanent seat on the Security Council. China’s power is growing at a significant rate.
Both nations vetoed the U.S. resolution to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe. The United States has been working to help the people of Zimbabwe after Robert Mugabe blatantly stole the most recent election. The country is falling apart and desperately needs help. China and Russia would rather protect Mugabe, and let him continue to destroy his country, than help the people of Zimbabwe.
There is also the issue of South Africa. President Thabo Mbeki has strong influence in the region could likely help resolve the problem in Zimbabwe. But he has steadfastly stood by Robert Mugabe.
If those are the countries that people around the world look up to and respect, they may want to consider what a world where Russia and China are dominant would look like. As for me, I’m proud that my country is still leading the way for freedom and democracy. We have little to no strategic or economic interests in Zimbabwe. But we’re trying to help, because all people deserve freedom.
Friedman sums up:
Which brings me back to America. Perfect we are not, but America still has some moral backbone. There are travesties we will not tolerate. The U.N. vote on Zimbabwe demonstrates that this is not true for these “popular” countries — called Russia or China or South Africa — that have no problem siding with a man who is pulverizing his own people.
So, yes, we’re not so popular in Europe and Asia anymore. I guess they would prefer a world in which America was weaker, where leaders with the values of Vladimir Putin and Thabo Mbeki had a greater say, and where the desperate voices for change in Zimbabwe would, well, just shut up.
