Democratic solidarity is being trumped by an older solidarity — ofThird World people of color against a “white, rich Western world.”
“America is Losing the Free World,” was the arresting headline over the Financial Times column by Gideon Rachman. His thesis:
The largest democracies of South America, Africa, the Middle Eastand Asia — Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, India — are all moving out ofAmerica’s orbit. “(T)he assumption that the democracies would sticktogether is proving unfounded.”
President Lula of Brazil has cut a “lucrative oil deal with China,spoken warmly of Hugo Chavez,” hailed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on hiselection “victory” and honored the Iranian president with a state visit.
In the Security Council, South Africa sided with Russia and China inkilling human rights resolutions and protecting Zimbabwe and Iran.Turkey has moved to engage Hezbollah, Hamas and Tehran, and spurnIsrael. Polls show anti-Americanism surging in Turkey. From trade tosanctions on Iran and Burma, India sides with China against America.