by Jasper Wolf

Created on: January 14, 2008

It is important for the US to have allies in all regions of the world in order to maintain global influence. The US considers Ethiopia an ally primarily because of its strategic location in eastern Africa, and its cooperation in the "war on terror". Bordered by hostile Islamic states - Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia - and close to the Arabian peninsula, Ethiopia provides the US an east African base, while Ethiopia benefits from our military support. In January 2007, Ethiopian troops backed by the US military toppled Somalia's Islamist-led government. In addition to operational support, the US military provides training, intelligence, arms, and funding to the Ethiopian military. Although this military alliance can be justified by our common interests, a wider alliance between the two countries is hampered by Ethiopia's dismal human rights record.

To most Americans, a country must respect basic human rights in order to be considered an ally, but Ethiopia does not meet this criteria. In response to demonstrations against the reelection of Ethiopia's ruling party in 2005, over 150 pro-democracy protesters were massacred by police in Addis Ababa, and over 30,000 dissidents were arrested. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, have been beaten and tortured, and denied due process. Intimidation has extended to journalists and representatives from international human rights groups, many of whom have been arrested, or expelled from the country for exposing abuses or criticizing the government. Surely, these human rights violations are appalling, but should they preclude a military alliance with the previously stated benefits? I believe the human rights violations should not preclude the alliance because, by nurturing our common interests, it becomes possible to exert influence where we desire change.

With Ethiopia, our common interest is regional stability, and anti-terrorism. We have "common interest" alliances with other countries with similarly appalling human rights records. We sell arms to Saudi Arabia despite their authoritarian government, censorship, and suppression of women. We have normal trade relations with China despite their authoritarian government and dismal human rights record. As the balance between "shared interests" and intolerable behavior diminishes, we admittedly get the to point where alliances are not possible. North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba could not be considered allies, but even in such cases, I believe that firm, principled diplomacy is the only way

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