Opinion | Madeline Albright: A symbol of America's lack of remorse, indifference and hypocrisy

By Tom Fowdy

The news emerged on Wednesday night that Madeleine Albright, formerly US Secretary of State under the Clinton administration from 1997 to 2001, had passed away at 84 years old. Not surprisingly, her passing was marked with an outpouring of tributes from America's political elite. Current Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated she was "a brilliant diplomat, a visionary leader, a courageous trailblazer, a dedicated mentor, and a great and good person". The United States of course always honors those it deems to be esteemed public servants, as it had done with the passing of John McCain some years prior. For that matter of course, who wouldn't? But it's important to remember such eulogies only reflect one side of the story and that beyond the United States, the name of Madeline Albright is one which brings much pain and resentment, especially to the Middle East.

Albright arguably had humble origins. Born Marie Jana Korbelová in 1937 in Czechoslovakia, her family were of Jewish origin before converting to Roman Catholicism, and ultimately struggled in the upheavals which beset Europe at that time including the Second World War and then later, the Cold War which would see the family move first to London but then later the United States, where she vested her academic and then diplomatic career on opposition to Communism in Europe and the USSR, which had been the political stake of her father. She would go on to become the US Ambassador to the United Nations, and by the Clinton Presidency the first female secretary of state.

Albright's tenure as Secretary of State came at a time whereby having won the Cold War, American foreign policy had orientated itself towards the Middle East. In the years preceding her role, the US had responded to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait with the Gulf War. Using its new unipolar, "Pax Americana" moment, the US initiated a maximum economic sanctions regime and comprehensive embargo on Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which was enforced by military power, which was upheld after the conflict ended. Many believed that the sanctions were inhumane, leading to estimates that it had killed up to 500,000 children through creating food shortages and malnutrition in the country. The most controversial moment of Albright's legacy was that she voiced active support for such measures, having infamously stated in an interview it was a "price worth paying".

She also attracted criticism for her role in the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, which killed an estimated 2000 civilians, and was alleged to have later referred to Serbian people as "disgusting". It is no surprise on such considerations that a woman who is otherwise honored in the United States is seen to many in the world as a symbol of American aggression, Imperialism and warmongering against innocent people. Upon her death, Dima Khatib, managing director of the Al Jazeera news service AJ+, was quoted in Newsweek in saying: "Please before you shower us with stuff about how great Madeleine Albright was, go dig what she thought of half a million Iraqi children killed by US sanctions on Iraq. Once you have heard her say: 'it was worth it' then come back and rewrite about her 'greatness!'"

This speaks volumes about America's lack of awareness in how it is perceived overseas. The country which frames itself as noble, heroic and righteous, is not regarded as such by the countries it has otherwise waged senseless destruction, death and deprivation upon, and in turn illustrates the two-tier system of international justice which exists in the world today. As the US formally accuses Russia of "war crimes" regarding Ukraine, when have its own leaders and officials ever been held to account? Only last August did a drone strike in Afghanistan kill seven children under the pretence it was a "terrorist cell"- the world shrugged and moved on.

Ultimately, America is never held to account for its crimes, and whilst Albright is far from the "worst" amongst US politicians objectively speaking, her dismissal of the situation in Iraq stands as an unforgettable moment in history in representing America's collective lack of conscience, indifference and hypocrisy towards the wider world. Thus, her posthumous glorification speaks an irony to this cold reality. America has no remorse or humanity for those who get in its way, only for some of its own.

The author is a well-seasoned writer and analyst with a large portfolio related to China topics, especially in the field of politics, international relations and more. He graduated with an Msc. in Chinese Studies from Oxford University in 2018.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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