By Dr. Sawraj Singh
Russia ignored tremendous American pressure and granted asylum to Edward Snowden. Snowden worked for the CIA and leaked information that America not only spied on its adversaries, but shockingly did not spare its friends either such as many European countries, and kept an eye on the activities of their citizens as well as its own. This led to immense humiliation and frustration for America because it had to face the wrath of the Europeans. One example of this wrath is the cancelling of a treaty which Germany had with America and the UK for sharing secret information. This was made during the Cold War.
America wants to capture Snowden and punish him for leaking the damaging information. For this purpose, America put a lot of pressure on other governments to not grant asylum to Snowden and not allow him to fly over their airspace. Snowden was temporarily in Hong Kong. He applied for asylum in different countries. Some countries like Bolivia and Venezuela agreed to grant him asylum. Snowden went from Hong Kong to Moscow so that he could go to South America. However, America pressured the European countries to not let Snowden fly over their air space. These countries completely disregarded international law and tried to stop Snowden from reaching South America. The plane carrying Bolivia’s President was stopped and searched while flying over a European country’s airspace when information was received that Snowden was on the plane. This action is a gross violation of international law because a plane in which a Head of Sate is travelling can neither be stopped nor searched.
America made it absolutely clear that it will completely disregard international law and will not let Snowden travel from Moscow to South America. America also applied tremendous pressure on Russia as to prevent it from granting asylum to Snowden. It said that Obama may not attend the G-20 Summit which is going to be held in Russia, or if he does attend, then he may cancel his meeting with Putin. Without Obama’s participation, the G-20 Summit would become irrelevant, and if Obama cancelled his meeting with Putin, then it could hurt Russia’s prestige. [The braking news is that Obama has cancelled his meeting with Putin] America felt that Russia would cave in and refuse asylum to Snowden. However, Putin resisted all of this pressure and decided to give asylum to Snowden. I feel that America has more to lose by further straining relations with Russia because when Russia and China got together, balance of power has already shifted to their side.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, America became the only superpower of the world. It also became the self-appointed Policeman of the world. This is first time, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, that any country has dared to defy the American pressure. Whereas this step shows Putin’s bravery and firmness, it also shows that America’s status as the only superpower of the world and its self-appointed status as the Policeman of the world have ended. The western-domination in the present world is dependent upon American hegemony because America is the undeclared leader of the current globalization, which is the highest stage of western capitalism. Putin is the only world leader who has dared to stand up to American hegemony and western domination.[ The other leaders who did this lacked the power of Russia] By doing this, Putin has reserved a place in history as a “Yug Paltauu” leader (Punjabi term translated as Era Changer).
The Indian leaders should learn a lesson from Putin’s firm stand. America feels that it has the right to interfere in India’s internal affairs and influence India’s policies. America has also subjected Indian leaders to great humiliation when they go to America. However, instead of exposing such arrogant and racist American attitudes, the Indian leaders have mostly tried to minimize it and cover it up. Even Indian intellectuals and writers, including so-called progressive and left-leaning ones, have followed this approach. They all try to justify the arrogant American behavior.
If someone tries to independently analyze American policies, then it will become clear that these policies are based upon hegemony, hypocrisy, and double standards. On one hand, America pressurizes other countries to deny asylum to people like Snowden and not even let them pass through their air space. On the other hand, America encourages dissidents in other countries not only to oppose their governments, but also forces their governments to allow them to travel to America or other western countries. Some of the dissidents in the Tiananmen Square were carrying American flags. Similarly, some of the Pakistanis who came to welcome Benazir Bhutto were also carrying American flags.
It is obvious that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, America and the western countries have followed arrogant and hegemonic policies which completely negate international norms and principles of diplomacy and “civilized behavior.” It appears that Putin has drawn a line in the sand and has sent a strong message that America and the western countries should reconsider these hegemonic, hypocritical, and arrogant policies which are based upon double standards. Not only will this be good for the world, but also for America and the western countries because the transition from a western-dominated world to a multipolar world can become smooth and peaceful.
Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected].
