The Curmudgeon

YOU'LL COME FOR THE CURSES. YOU'LL STAY FOR THE MUDGEONRY.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Lengthening the Poodle's Leash

The greatest country in the world is reconfiguring its diplomatic profile, sending fifteen more diplomats to China, the same to Latin America and a dozen to India. Full and frank discussions will doubtless be facilitated. The enhancement of the Voice of Freedom in China is an acknowledgement of "its possible military threat to US interests in the Pacific Rim countries and elsewhere in Asia", not to mention "the danger posed by unresolved territorial issues such as Taiwan". In the eighties it was Nicaragua; in the nineties it was Libya; now, besides digging in for the long haul in the war on the abstract noun, America, the greatest country in the world, must ensure that it is not overwhelmed by the Taiwanese threat.

America's other priority is India, which during the war on communism had the bad grace to be non-aligned and now, during the war on terror, retains "strong leftwing opposition in the government coalition and among the public". George W Bush, with Condi in tow, today begins a visit to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, perhaps to show those excitable little brown guys that, compared with some guests, twelve to fifteen John Bolton clones might not be such a bad thing to put up with.

Rather uncharitably, Arundhati Roy has already registered a sour note, observing that Bush will be visiting Gandhi's memorial and claiming that "millions of Indians will wince" at the sight. This seems a bit churlish. I am sure George merely wants to thank Mohandas for naming his party after the United States House of Representatives. Also, since five per cent of the planet's population belongs to the greatest country in the world, it follows that Bush shares 95% of Gandhi's commitment to non-violence.

The Bush administration's various diplomatic invasions will mean, of course, a certain thinning of resources elsewhere. The American embassy in Britain will be reduced by one diplomat, indicating the extent to which we are trusted by our most major ally, the greatest country in the world.

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