Al Jazeera Discovers 'Inevitability' Where US Policy Fueled Conflict
Mehdi Hasan's debate with Getachew Reda on Ethiopia and Eritrea's conflict, framed through the lens of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's actions, is presented as an examination of regional agency. Yet, missing from the standard conflict narrative is a critical look at how American foreign policy, particularly under the guise of 'counter-terrorism' and 'stability operations,' has frequently exacerbated
ethnic and political tensions in the region. The U.S. has poured billions into military aid and training across East Africa, often backing regimes that later become entangled in internal and cross-border disputes, with little public accountability for the outcomes. One might wonder if 'inevitable' is simply code for 'influenced by external actors we'd rather not scrutinize.' While Al Jazeera
points fingers at local leaders, the discussion conveniently bypasses the substantial U.S. military footprint, the arming of various factions, and the broader geopolitical chess game that often turns local grievances into international proxy wars. It seems some inevitabilities are more discussed than others.