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Posts Tagged ‘Foreign Policy’

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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The Economist has a number of EU related articles on the Eurozone and all that load of Uncle Tom Cobbly and All stuff. http://www.economist.com/node/18333103. Although the Economist, in my opinion rather blindly, promotes the Euro and the EU as a “fundamentally good thing”despite any facts to the contrary, I quite like it as a newspaper, it is far less turgid than most and better focused than the majority of the British Media.

Whilst I feel that for psychological and the practical reasons of keeping our Politicians and Establishment more honest and bereft of excuses for bad decisions, the UK would be better off outside the EU, I really do not wish to be associated with the kind of idiotic “ranters” you get with UKIP. My reasons are pragmatic and not concerned with wrapping myself in the Union Flag.

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I have little time for “conspiracy theories”, in the UK Cock Up is far more the norm than any individual or group of individuals trying to manipulate ‘outcomes’ but there is one aspect of the Duke of York “story” that does interest me which an editorial in The Independent almost accidentally touched upon.

Namely that it (the story), has taken off since the Wikileaks mention of the reaction of an American diplomat to the Prince and his comments over the SFO investigation into the al-Yamamah arms deal with the Saudi Arabian government of 30 years ago, a contract the US always resented the UK wining.

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It would be hard for anyone from the UK with, however frustrating at times, a settled democracy won by our forefathers to fully understand just how the people of Egypt must be feeling right now. For them the whole experience of toppling what was, still is, a Police State by peaceful means must seem like achieving an “Impossible Dream” or climbing Mount Everest so well done to all of them and all of good faith must send them best wishes for a happy future.

Of course it will not be easy, the road ahead for them is strewn with many thorny problems but… If they can do this, why should they not also “do that” ?

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