Outside Reading #4, A History of the World Since 9/11

Chapter seven is titled Friends in Low Places, and it begins with a quote from George W. Bush. "All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you." - George W. Bush, January 2005. It seems at this stage in the war President Bush is trying to give the United States a "World Police" image. He is saying that the United States will protect the freedoms of people who are being ruled by ruthless or oppressive leaders, the United States will intervene and stop that leader, and spread democracy. This chapter was about the United States trying to make allies in the middle east so they could carry on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to hunt down the Taliban and spread democracy in the middle east. The chapter talks about how Uzbekistan-American relationship was a complicated, but vital. Being allies with Uzbekistan gave America easier access to Afghanistan. "The United States-Uzbek Status of Forces Agreement had been a stopgap designed to get the United States into Afghanistan as fast as possible" (266). Having agreements, such as this, with middle eastern nations was vital to American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States had many enemies in the middle east, but by making agreements with middle eastern nations the United States was able to set up more effective military operations, have a safe area for troops, they could open trade with these nations as well.