Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

The evolving consensus is that the United States is morally obliged to align itself with revolutionary movements in the Middle East as a kind of compensation for its Cold War policies (invariably described as "misguided"), in which it cooperated with non-democratic governments in the region for security objectives. Then, it is alleged, supporting fragile governments in the name of international stability generated long-term instability. Even granting that some of the Cold War policies were continued beyond their utility, the Cold War structure lasted 30 years and induced decisive strategic transformations, such as Egypt's abandonment of its alliance with the Soviet Union and the signing of the Camp David Accords. If the pattern now emerging fails to establish an appropriate relationship to its proclaimed goals, it risks being inherently unstable from its very inception, which could submerge the values it proclaimed.

[Questions]
1) What is the "pattern now emerging"? Can you rephrase the words "pattern" and "emerging" here?

2) What does "it" refer to? The pattern?

3) I don't really understand the phrase "it riks being inherently unstable" Can you explain in plain English?

[IanT]

1) The new way of thinking about what America should do, and what is done as a result of it.

2) Not clear. Probably the behaviour of America as a result of the pattern, or the situation in that part of the world.

3) ... there is the danger that the situation will be unstable because of the nature of the policy itself, not because of any outside factors.


Basically, he's trying to say "we shouldn't be nice, it's dangerous"

Best wishes,
Ian
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[syoshioka99]

Thank you, IanT! this article is really hard to comprehend but it is getting better.