What Sarko told Condi
8:23pmHave we entered a post-American age in Europe? That’s the argument of this Adam Gopnik piece in the New Yorker. It argues that what Gordon Brown, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy all have in common is a desire not to be defined by their relationship with the United States. So, Brown is cooling things so as not to be seen as a poodle and Sarkozy is being friendlier to avoid the French president being seen as an anti-American above all else. Gopik goes on to say that, "The Sarkozy-Gordon Brown-Merkel generation is not unsympathetic to America, but America is not so much the primary issue for them, as it was for Blair and Chirac, in the nineties, when America was powerful beyond words.”
Yet, when you look at Brown and Sarkozy’s policies the influence of America is clear. Brown’s talk on citizenship and the constitution could have been lifted straight from a US civics textbook. Equally, Sarkozy in Testimony is happy to admit that he thinks there are lessons to be learnt from America. While on the foreign policy front, America is still the defining relationship as it remains the sole activist superpower. Equally, the Western world—as the Balkan painfully demonstrated—can’t deal with any major problem without America. As Sazrkozy put it in a conversation with Rice, America is by ‘necessity, the leader of our side.’ The rest of his advice to her is also worth noting and something that Washington should pay far more attention to than it does:
When Sarkozy met Condoleezza Rice, she said, ‘What can I do for you?’ And he said, bluntly, ‘Improve your image in the world. It’s difficult when the country that is the most powerful, the most successful—that is, of necessity, the leader of our side—is one of the most unpopular countries in the world. It presents overwhelming problems for you and overwhelming problems for your allies. So do everything you can to improve the way you’re perceived—that’s what you can do for me.’
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George Steiner, Lachine, Quebec, Canada
August 22nd, 2007 1:40am Report this commentSo Washington should pay attention to being more popular eh Mr Forsyth? I bet you the Canadians are popular with the world. Or the Japanese. It is easy to do in principle Mr. Forsyth. Here is what would make the Americans very popular with the Brits, the Krauts and the Frogs.
1. Dont support but criticize Israel.
2. Support the nice Palestinian people with tons of money.
3. Don't just give the UN tons of money but promote its omnipotence.
4. Above all as the inoffensive Europeans, do not, but do not give offense to the Muslims.
5. Don't insist on free trade.
6. Always seek the advice of the wise French and the very experienced Brits before doing anything.
7. Abolish the death penalty, it is sooo barbaric.
8. Do not under any circumstances go to war.
Well Mr Forsyth would these few small thing improve things a bit?
Vincenzo Rampulla
August 22nd, 2007 1:58pm Report this commentObviously Georgeo Seiner has a bee in his flowery bonnett and loves lists. But think we can make the following improvements: 1. Dont automatically support Israel in everything but support/criticise as appropriate to the matter at hand. 2. Support the peac process by giving the Palestinian people fair handling and financial support where necessary and appropriate to gain results. 3. Fund US share of the UN's costs but acknowledge it's important, the need for reform and the need to address the issue of its authority. 4. Acknowledge the extremism, whether Muslim or not, needs to comfronted. 5. Support free trade and reject protectionism. 6. Don't go running off on your own but look to include your allies, like the British and the French, seriously taking on their advice. 7. Abolish the death penalty, there is no need for it in a mature liberal democracy. 8. Do not go to war without: a) being absolutely sure it is necessary; b)talking to your allies and taking on their opinions (see point 6); c)you have full, complete and comprehensive plans in place, including post conflict plans. 9. Lead the way in terms of chellenging the critical problems facing our global society, namely: a)the environmental health of our planet; b) global poverty; c)the increasing gap between the rich and poor; d)the need to promote human rights and civil liberities, both at home and abroad; and e)the move towards political/religious/social extremism and the danger it poses to our way of life (liberal democracy which embraces rights and responsibilities.
section9
August 22nd, 2007 11:02pm Report this commentAmerica will never be popular. That is not our lot in life.
Our lot in life is to be lonely until the world realizes that it absolutely can't do without us. Then we get popular again.
For example, George Bush got the Congress to fund 15 billion dollars for AIDS research and assistance in Africa. For our troubles, the American taxpayer got a big FU from the rest of the planet.
Don't think we don't notice this.
What no one over on your side of the pond realized is that we are really NOT an imperial people. We just pick up our marbles and go home. Imperialism isn't our bag. I don't care what borderline psychotics like John Pilger tell you.
Someone is going to get elected on the platform of Isolationism and Fortress America. That sentiment is going to look overwhelmingly good when some politician gets elected President after decades of being trashed by the Europeans. Don't say that you weren't warned. The anti-Americanism of the bien pensant classes has worked its way down to Leeds, and it shows.
Remember, you go to war with the America you have, not the one the Guardian Editorial Page wants you to have.
Fernandez
August 26th, 2007 6:21am Report this commentI agree with Steiner and section9. It is not America that has changed over the years, it is Europe. Whether through islamification or living in the utopia insured by American firepower, Europe does not exist in the same Hobbesian world we still do. The U.S. should stop paying the extortion demanded by the world just to be popular. (That would be UN dues, climate change hoohaw and the endless cash for Africa and the Palestinians. Frankly, cutting both of the latter two groups off would make them find peace.) Absence makes the heart grow fonder. When the wheels come off the EU or Sharia is the law of the land, don't come looking for us. If you don't believe isolationism is on the rise, start paying attention to all those Ron Paul web nutters that take over every discussion board. That is what he's preaching. (He calls it non-interventionism, but it all boils down to the same thing.)
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