Following the tradition of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blinken is staging political theatre designed to verbally defend human rights, international law and democracy while supporting repressive governments loyal to his geopolitical interests, according to The Nation.
Kissinger addressed a meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Santiago, Chile, on 8 June 1976, warning Gen. Augusto Pinochet that shocking human rights violations by his government “impaired” relations between the US and Chile. The Secretary of State then urged Pinochet to respect “fundamental standards of humane conduct,” but in a private meeting the day before the OAS speech, he assured the Chilean general of his full support and that his public statements would be nothing more than essential political theatre.
Some consider Kissinger the founder of this strategy, while others revere him as one of the most ruthlessly effective politicians. After his death, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he “set the standard for everyone who followed in this job.”
Today, Blinken is following his footsteps in trying to reconcile Washington’s unconditional support for Israel’s assault on Gaza with its declared commitment to a “rules-based” order. However, while the Secretary of State takes every opportunity to urge Israel to take steps to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza, the Biden administration has secured over $14 billion in unconditional military aid to Israel over the past four months.
The package, in addition to the $3.8 billion in aid Israel receives annually, has yet to be approved by Congress, as it is tied to the Ukraine aid package opposed by House Republicans.
Israeli forces have used US-supplied weapons against Palestinian civilians, leading to widespread condemnation. A recent +972 Magazine investigation revealed that despite Washington’s public calls for Israel to “minimise civilian harm,” Israeli forces have deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure in Gaza for deterrence purposes.
Washington has frustrated all diplomatic efforts to hold Israel accountable under international law. Last month, the US vetoed another ceasefire and hostage exchange resolution in the UN Security Council. Moreover, the US also continues to oppose the International Court of Justice’s ongoing investigation into allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
But the implementation of Washington’s two-faced Israeli-Palestinian strategy has moved beyond Blinken and turned into a collective effort. When President Biden publicly acknowledges Israel’s tactics in Gaza as “over the top,” with his administration speaking of his “mounting frustration” over the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they play along with the Secretary of State.
The Biden administration is buying time for Israel by distracting the public with human rights and concern for Palestinian citizens, while providing Israel with weapons to continue offensive operations in Gaza.
Israel, for its part, vows to storm Rafah, from which more than a million Palestinians have been forced to flee, while the Biden administration has warned Netanyahu that it would not support a full-scale Rafah offensive “without a credible plan for ensuring the safety” of civilians.
Yet, instead of using real leverage to dissuade Israel, Biden and Blinken continue to provide Netanyahu with all the tools needed to carry on with hostilities. The pattern remains the same as in Kissinger’s time: call for restraint and protection of civilians in public, but provide a steady flow of weapons behind the scenes.
Kissinger’s strategy formed the basis of the dual policy of the American leadership, which only improved this tool with each new administration. And today, Blinken may well have already surpassed his “teacher.”
