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We do not have clear evidence that the American people and government actually believe that the principle of “the consent of the governed” that is so eloquently enshrined in their Declaration of Independence and Constitution is a God-given right of all peoples across the world. That is because American policies in some foreign countries do not promote the consent of the governed, but rather the rule of oligarchs and dictators. Were the people and government of the United States to put their policy where their mouth is, they would respond to the Arab uprisings more forcefully and consistently.