"Adam C. Lipscomb" wrote: > > Is Foggy Bottom losing faith in Europe? > > http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y20312172 >
Beware, this article tries to skirt the edge between journalism and propaganda, rather poorly, imho. > By Martin Walker > UPI Chief International Correspondent > > WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- "You want to know what I > really think of the Europeans?" asked the senior State > Department official. "I think they have been wrong on > just about every major international issue for the > past 20 years." > > "They told us they could fix the Bosnian mess all on > their own. Wrong." Perhaps they could have, but they didn't. I'll concede that one. > "They told us the Russians would never accept NATO > enlargement. Wrong." There was no evidence at the time to suggest that Russia would, especially given the rhetoric that had been streaming from that country for decades. > "They told us that the Russians would never accept > National Missile Defense. Wrong." > > "They told us that if we withdrew from the > Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 the whole > structure of international arms control agreements > would come crashing down. Wrong." That is yet to be seen. More nations have nuclear weapons than ever before, an alarming trend at best. > "They told us that the Kyoto Protocol was a good and > worthwhile treaty, more than just cosmetics. Wrong." But the USA's failure to participate IS THE REASON why the Kyoto Proticol has gone nowhere. He does not get to claim credit for predicting failure and then sabotaging the project. > "They told us that the European Union's new common > security and defense policy would improve the military > abilities of the NATO allies in Europe. Wrong." How many military attacks against Europe have they failed to repel? What are the criteria? > "These were also the people who were wrong about > Ronald Reagan and the Evil Empire, the same 'friends' > who helped vote us off the United Nations Human Rights > Commission. These are the people who whine about our > Farm Bill when they are the world's prime > protectionists. They are not just repeatedly wrong; > they are also a bunch of hypocrites. So why should we > pay attention to a single thing they say?" Wow, such a balanced and eloquent argument. None of his "reasons" have anything to do with the answer to his question: "we need to listen to what they say because they are allies, and they represent a large portion of the world's economic and military output, among other things. The rest of the article continues its rant, invoking "sympathizing east-coast journalists", "patronizing European diplomats", "vast disparities between the US armed forces and everyone else", the "hugely expensive and technologically advanced American Armed Forces", and so on. This article does exactly what John D. Giorgis accuses the "liberal press" of doing to the Republican Party. This article is trying to make the US populace feel good about going to war and killing our long-standing friendships. The sad thing is that so many people won't see it for the propaganda that it is. -- Matt _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
