Washington's Shaky Denial in Malaysia: A Pattern of Influence? The US State Department's swift denial that it tried to sway Malaysia's 2014 leadership choices raises more questions than answers.
At first glance, this appears to be a routine exercise in diplomatic spin control. However, upon closer inspection, we find a tangled web of allegations, denials, and lingering suspicions.
A Familiar Pattern of Influence Washington's past behavior in Southeast Asia has been marked by a willingness to exert its influence, sometimes cloaked as "diplomatic pressure.