Cheney assures Azerbaijan of U.S ‘interest’
On a visit to Azerbaijan- the country visited by a group of Western journalists among whom yours truly - United States Vice President Dick Cheney ‘assured Azerbaijan on Wednesday of America’s “abiding interest” in the region’s stability.’
Azerbaijan is one of three countries in the region weary of Russia due to its recent invasion of (neighboring) Georgia, and the lack of response from the West in the first couple of days of the war.
Azerbaijan is one of the most valuable U.S. allies in the region; it is a former Soviet Republican that wants to focus on the West, it has lots of oil and is more than willing to sell it to the West so that the latter does not depend as much as it does nowadays on Arab countries, and it is one of the few truly secular Moslem countries.
The United States has a very clear interest in Azerbaijan, well two actually; being befriended with a secular Moslem country which is increasingly Westernizing and, yes, energy.
Azerbaijanis are looking at the West for friendship, security and support, but thus far, the West has not given them what they are looking for, or not suffice at least. Russia’s invasion of Georgia reminded Azerbaijanis of their weakness, and caused them to rethink their relations with both Russia and the U.S. They want to be closer to the latter, and break with the former, but that is only possible if the U.S. truly protects Azerbaijan when necessary.
Losing Azerbaijan would be disastrous for the United States and the West as a whole. Cheney’s visit is well timed; it shows Azerbaijanis that Americans do care about them and their fate.
Meanwhile, one cannot help but wonder whether the timing of Cheney’s visit (so shortly after the visit of the journalists Jamie Kirchick, Andrew Breitbart, Rob Long, Adam Kushner, Abe Greenwald, Gregory Rodriguez and Michael van der Galien) is a coincidence. We think not. It is clear that our influence is greater than we imagined. What a world safers we are! We should be hired by every single country in trouble. Invite us, and you’re problem will be solved.
