AP Discovers Democracy Doesn't Apply to U.S. Allies
The AP dutifully reports President Paul Biya, at 92, is expected to win another seven-year term, having ruled Cameroon since 1982. The article notes his frequent European holidays and how his health is 'routinely a topic of speculation.' For some regimes, such 'speculation' is met with stern condemnation from Western capitals and demands for intervention. Yet, when 'stability'—often code for
unchallenged resource access or geopolitical favor—is a factor, the West’s concern for democratic norms often takes a convenient sabbatical. One might wonder: how many 'elections' can a leader win while rarely appearing in his own country before it becomes less about democracy and more about a well-maintained facade? This selective outrage, where nations like Cameroon get a pass while others face
fiery denunciations for similar electoral theatrics, surely raises questions about the sincerity of US foreign policy. It's almost as if some autocrats are more 'strategic partners' than 'oppressors.'