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Posts Tagged ‘Foreign Policy’

It seems that very suddenly, the situation has changed dramatically in Libya but one suspects that behind all that has been a lot of hard work and patient build up in preparing for the final assault on Tripoli.

It is not over yet, there is still plenty of scope for further bloodshed and the ideal outcome that the fighting should stop fairly immediately, at this time is not in sight but, it may not be far away.

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Although at this time of the year with people away on their holidays, UK journalism like the TV schedules of endless repeats and nonsense, are never at their best but I was quite amused by an editorial in the Independent today on Afghanistan: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-giving-ground-to-the-taliban-2329612.html

It is difficult from reading this article to get a grip on what the “Writer’s view” actually is, that we should stay or go ? It is particularly funny coming from a newspaper which whilst not as arrogant as the Guardian, most times is as left wing and drippy as it.

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In the UK our “Sacred Cow” and some may argue, “White Elephant” too is the National Health Service which no politician and however rational their approach, may touch let alone reform properly as is so obviously required. The equivalent in the United States is Defence Spending or the Pentagon Budget and the same restrictions on reform of that puppy apply there too.

A running story (since 2001), is the progress or rather lack of progress of the Joint Strike Fighter which by common consent is likely to be the last manned fighter aircraft as unmanned drones will likely be the future of military warfare. Known as the F35, although the majority of the work is done in the USA, several International partners including the UK are taking part in the program in both funding and the manufacture of sub-assemblies for it. This project to my mind illustrates perfectly the many problems both military and economic that confronts the Western Nations today.

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There are times when the mutterings of the Metropolitan Media Classes, really get up my nose. It is not their smug left wing bias, it is their dishonesty and inability to see an issue as it really is rather than as a reflection of their own current hormonal imbalances. A prime example was this in the Independent of the other day : http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-mission-creep-and-perilous-tactics-in-libya-2288471.html

I have no doubt that if Gaddafi had been allowed to massacre his opponents as he intended, the Independent might well be the first to write that “Something Should Be Done !” and then accuse the British Government of inaction and sacrificing the innocent because of our interests in continuing access to Libyan oil and exploration rights. Remember all the headlines over releasing Mehgrani ?

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The visit of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington and his blunt rejection of President Barak Obama’s attempt to get peace talks moving again in the Israeli/Palestinian dispute, brings that whole issue into the UK spotlight again. One can say that very obviously, it is an issue that hasn’t gone away and won’t any time soon either and I would agree.

However my point would be that unlike obviously for Israel and the USA, it’s primary supporter where it is an important issue, for the average Briton, it is certainly not a burning one, apart from Britons of the Jewish faith, most don’t feel that there is any strong connection with the area and anyway, one best avoided.

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It is still, I find surprising how a news item or story can trigger a sudden and on the surface at least, a new insight into topics I have previously expressed an opinion on. The Independents occasional correspondent in Paris wrote upon the loss of the European Unity Ideal which, you can check out for yourself: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-european-unity-is-an-ideal-that-is-being-crushed-by-crude-nationalism-2273768.html

Although not his intention I am sure, it made me realise just how far and fast the ‘argument’ has moved on and at some speed since 2008…

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Although I often find even the European edition of Time magazine, far too “American” in terms of its content, from time to time, there are some really excellent articles and this past weekends edition is a case in point particularly with regard to Defence Spending. Entitled “How to Save a Trillion Dollars”, it is well worth reading: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2065108,00.html

Those who know me, might well say that I liked this article because it accords with many of the views I have been expressing and particularly with regard to Aircraft Carriers for some years now. However, I would suggest that it is far more than that because throughout history, there comes a moment in time when military thinking needs a radical overhaul, I would suggest that we have reached that point right now.

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This may seem strange or, merely prove that I am a very strange person all together but, the other day when considering graphics software updates from Adobe, I saw a stark relationship between the situation in Libya and especially from the perspective of of the Rebels based in Benghazi, the US company Adobe and a software update to their range of products.

I will tell you that this essay is essentially about graphics software rather than Libya but, there is a relationship between the latest Adobe ‘upgrade’ and calls for arming the rebels in Libya…

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With the apparent defection of Moussa Koussa, the Libyan Foreign Minister to the UK and the news that representatives of Gaddafi have held talks in London and presumably about potential “exit routes”, the question then arises as to whether “Expedience trumps Justice”, should you let Gaddafi off the hook ?

There was an Editorial in the Independent that whilst acknowledging the ‘realpolitik’ in the situation, came down on the side of imposing justice in the shape of International Law. It is a view I do not agree with but you can read it for yourself: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-when-demands-of-justice-and-realpolitik-collide-2258668.html

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An interesting story that will not doubt take time to evolve and will not be simple to resolve, concerns the recent events in Libya. However, the diplomatic efforts by Lebanon, France and the UK to get a “No Fly” Resolution passed at the UN deserve much praise as does US restraint so that the regional voices could come to the fore. One suspects that we have the US to also thank for the extensive writ for “All Means short of occupation” to enforce this Resolution.

Within the UK and despite much sneering initially, David Cameron having stuck to his guns, has done himself no harm by showing clear leadership on this matter and although it may not surface immediately, the “real story” concerning William Hague’s role in events will be interesting to discover, I suspect it will be far more positive than some in the Media will like.

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