American Bloody Pragmatism

Gilad Atzmon
Gilad Atzmon's Blog

"Surely it is about time to state the obvious : It is not morality; it is not values, and neither is it any ethical consideration that drives our leaders."

After killing hundreds of thousands of Muslims in the name of democracy, the White House has now decided that ‘stability in the region’ is by far, much more important.

On Saturday, The Wall Street journal reported that the Obama administration is devising a new Middle East strategy in the face of ongoing Arab world turmoil, preferring stability over democracy for key allies in the region.

Here in Britain not many people believed Bush and Blair when they preached democracy and moral interventionism -- And I guess that the new American strategy cannot be taken at all seriously either.

Actually, I believe that by now, the American ruling elite should just come clean and tell the truth to the Arabs in the region: ‘listen you guys -- all we want is your oil. We don’t care what you do with your life, or what you believe in; just keep the flow of this dark greasy lubricant stable.’

I wonder; why is it so difficult for the American and British governments to produce such a simple statement? After all; is not telling the truth a Western value?

The report contended that the new American policy is due to domestic U.S. criticism that the Obama administration had sent mixed messages in the initial stages of the Egyptian uprising, and that the ambiguity and confusion had led to the ousting of President Mubarak, a longtime Western ally : The White House had tentatively endorsed Mubarak's leadership at the beginning of the protests -- and then switched allegiances, throwing full support behind the protesters, who eventually overthrew the three-decade Egyptian president.

I do not entirely agree that Obama had behaved in a confusing or inconsistent manner -- I think that the White House policy is, actually, very coherent and very consistent, for it constantly bounces and swings between backing the people, and then the tyrants. When the Americans are convinced that the success of the revolution is immanent -- they support the people. But when they are certain that oppression and tyranny will continue to ‘provide the goods’ (cheap oil) then they simply go ahead and support their traditional undemocratic allies.

Surely it is about time to state the obvious : It is not morality; it is not values, and neither is it any ethical consideration that drives our leaders.

Rather, it is sheer pragmatism, and relentless greed.

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Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). As a multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet and Flutes. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. He has been described by John Lewis on the Guardian as the “hardest-gigging man in British jazz". His albums, of which he has recorded nine to date, often explore political themes and the music of the Middle East.

Until 1994 he was a producer-arranger for various Israeli Dance & Rock Projects, performing in Europe and the USA playing ethnic music as well as R&R and Jazz.

Coming to the UK in 1994, Atzmon recovered an interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. In 2000 he founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own roots in the light of his emerging political awareness. Since then the Orient House Ensemble has toured all over the world. The Ensemble includes Eddie Hick on Drums, Yaron Stavi on Bass and Frank Harrison on piano & electronics.

Also, being a prolific writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published. His novels 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages.
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URL: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2011/03/07/american-bloody-pragmatism