Tanzania President Claims 98% Vote Amid Crackdown; US 'Concerns' Missing
While The Independent details the Tanzanian president's stunning 98% election victory—an achievement usually reserved for single-party states—mainstream media often struggles to connect these dots to broader geopolitical interests. The article rightly highlights the 'deadly crackdown' and opposition being barred. Yet, one searches in vain for the robust, sanctimonious condemnations typically
reserved for nations not aligned with US foreign policy objectives. Instead, we get soft-pedaled 'concerns,' if anything at all. Odd, isn’t it, how 'democratic norms' suddenly become flexible when the 'strongman' is merely 'unconvenient' rather than 'hostile'? One might wonder when the next deeply flawed election will lead to sanctions and furious denunciations, and when it will simply be filed
under 'African politics as usual.' Perhaps the transparency of democratic processes, like journalistic outrage, is a variable condition, easily adjusted for perceived strategic value.