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It is a bit cynical to mention the role of the internet in the uprise against Mubarak as an example of the internet being "america's greatest weapon" given Muba
by galactus 15y ago
It is a bit cynical to mention the role of the internet in the uprise against Mubarak as an example of the internet being "america's greatest weapon" given Mubarak's position as a longtime US ally.
- cstavish 15y agoPerhaps you mean "ironic"? If so, absolutely. Irony and hypocrisy are seldom divorced from US foreign policy.
- astine 15y ago"Cynical?" That seems like a strange word choice to me. Either way, I agree that saying the Internet is somehow America's weapon, as if the US government was somehow the architect of these revolts or that they are specifically in the US's interest, seems to be a misnomer. Maybe the OP means 'America' as in the spirit of democracy which America represents, but it's been a long while since America was really the single shining beacon of democracy for the world (if it ever was.) The US government has, for a long time now, preferred alliances of convenience to alliances of ideology. I'm not even sure that this is a bad thing.
- zeemonkee 15y ago" I'm not even sure that this is a bad thing." Actually, it's been a pretty awful thing and led the US to create enemies were none existed before. The alliance with the Mujehaddin in Afghanistan in the 80s is a good example. (BTW as interesting a discussion as this is it really belongs in Reddit)