Tuesday, February 22, 2005

The Message is the Message

Oxblog reports news that should be surprising, but isn't. After all, consistency is an easier policy than rampant exceptionalism.

Not long ago, I criticized the US government for its silent response to an anti-democratic coup d'etat in Togo. Thus, I am indebted to JT for pointing out that the US has now cut off all military assistance to Togo and endorsed the tough sanctions imposed by the regional organization known as ECOWAS. After my initial criticism of the administration, one liberal realist chided me for assuming that this President literally intended to promote democracy across the globe. ... Yet it seemed that the White House has surprised all of us.