Supporting Dictators

The U.S. has supported many of the world's most ruthless dictators over the past century. The names include Sadam Hussein, Shah Pahlavi, and countless others. Two of those are François Duvalier and his son, Jean-Claude, who headed a dynastic dictatorship that lasted nearly 30 years. François, known as Papa Doc and ruling from 1957-1971, outmaneuvered the U.S. into granted his administration aid by playing up its anti-Communist stance. Jean-Claude, known as Baby Doc and ruling from 1971-1985, offered cosmetic liberal reforms in extorting aid from the U.S. (more on Haiti at International Edition)

U.S. involvement in other nations' business has often led to suffering for those nations. Too often, when the U.S. gives aid, it goes directly into the pockets of rich autocrats. If the U.S. attempts to put conditions on aid, they are, with some justification, accused of stealing the receiving nation's sovereignty. The U.S. should refrain from policing the world until an acceptable method of helping the poor masses is conceived. When the U.S. becomes involved in political intrigues in other countries, the result is rarely positive for the nation it is supposedly helping. Staying out of other nations' business is a better policy.