SAMANTHA POWER PRESSED ON HYPOCRITICAL US POLICIES

U.S. authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to sell their policies to Millennials as the younger generation is more inclined to question establishment politics. In that vein, former U.S. envoy to the UN and current head of USAID, Samantha Power, found herself on the hot seat during a Question and Answer session at Johns Hopkins University where she was a guest speaker on climate policies.

During the talk, a young contract specialist at USAID, an organisation known for its food-diplomacy (or dependency) in exchange for towing US foreign policy," asked her about Washington's conflicting policies in Gaza, labelling them "hypocritical." Power's unconvincing, half-hearted response served to highlight the growing gap between U.S. political elite and young Americans. The divide has increased in recent months, especially due to Washington’s continued support for Israel in its assault on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children.

Again, keep in mind, USAID is just one tool in the US foreign policymakers bag of tricks. Not only has it been used to weaponise food aid, making it mightier than bombs, missiles and foreign intervention in places like Africa, but some Global South governments have even accused the agency of being a CIA front. In recent years, USAID has expanded its operations, creating a social media network in Cuba called ZunZuneo in the hopes of undermining, weakening, or even overthrowing the government.

Do you think the detachment of U.S. policymakers from their young citizens will affect global politics?