Steven P. BarrettNICHOLAS SARKOZY: CONDI, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THIS GUY: PLEASE!
August 15th 2008 15:35
By Steven Barrett
Can the European Union, especially France and most especially Nicolas Sarkozy, to sit down and talk with the Russians who are far more comfortable dealing with and respecting nations demonstrating any backbone and desire to use, instead "hard power"?
Has there ever been a case in history or even your individual lives when you can recall when bullies took seriously anybody's notion of holding "continual dialogue" and "engagement"? In the real world of hard-ball politics and international power-plays, the bullies always succeed at first, and perhaps permanently, if nobody stands up to them. In our school playgrounds, the bullies always had free rein to pull their schtick until some kid or kids said "enough" and took action.
And by that I don't mean running off and complaining to the principal's office.
The West never gets this part down, and until we do, we're going to be continually finding ourselves at the mercy of the playground bullies for decades to come. If it's not the terrorists, now it's the Russians threatening to cut off more of our oil. Then it'll be our ever so friendly hosts in Beijing that Bush schmoozed with in addition to his pal Vlad up in the stands, knowing full well Vlad was letting his playground goons beat the tar out of some upstart Georgians who had the nerve to upset the international scheme of things by acting upon their right to defend the rights to their territorial integrity. Putin had his Sudentenland in Southern Ossestia tucked in Georgia proper, and he cleverly used the "Olympic Peace" to smash and grab.
And all Bush and Condolezza Rice could cough up was a "Naughty, naughty" through the words "isn't acceptable." Laughingly, you can always cut yourself some slack to excuse any inaction with the former comments, but what happens when it becomes more serious because you can't back up the latter?
Let us not be dismayed! The French are going to save the day! Why thanks to none other than France's President (LOL) Nicolas Sarkozy, the world can breath easier since he returned ala Neville Chamberlain from Munich, with yet another scrap of paper promising "peace in our times" from yet another bully, Vlad, the PAST, AND STI LL REAL BOSS OF RUSSIA. Dimitri Medvedev succeeded him in title only. And one only has to watch this guy in action to see how far up he'd climb the nearest drapes like a little mouse if Putin said "BOO."
Let's just sit back, watch France's Philanderer-in-Chief (whose amorous exploits and tastelessness makes Bill Clinton's sins of state and otherwise look venial -- yes, Mrs. Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, whatever your title is, you, too, CAN and SHOULD keep your clothes on the next time you desire to express frontal transparency on behalf of your husband's government.) LIke French diplomacy lately, there's a lot to be desired, no matter how transparent you try to make it. I'd rather hear from the original Mdme. Sarkozy on that score to find out how this new Neville Chamberlain really thinks before anyone sends him to deal with a realist like Putin.) Like Chamberlain, all Nicky came back with was yet another scrap sheet promising "peace in our times" -- with Georgia losing the pieces.
Surely it was refreshing to hear our Secretary of State Condi Rice blast Russia through its (state) "reporter" at the State Department a few days earlier when she reminded them days of pulling off another Prague back in '68 are finished. But do the Georgians know this yet?
Has Putin gotten Condi's stern-looked message? Reagan basically said the same thing back in 1981, but he at least was dealing with the gerontocracy that pulled off that heist in Prague and he had time on his side, not to mention a lack of dependency on Russian oil. Russia's a "capitalist" nation nowadays, but it ain't the kind we're used to (as often anymore.)
I poked around for several pics that'd be "appropriate" for this post. And I came up with a shot of Condi and Sarkozy, Sarkozy and Medvedev and Chamberlain and Hitler. Alas, I don't have enough grafting and doctoring skills when it comes to mangling photos to "make a point.," beside that of combat. No, I wanted to make a "diplomatic point" in this post.
Seeing this is the era of leaderlessleadership, I'm going to forcefully abdicate my rights to exercise full judgment, not to mention any sensible responsibility for my acts and weasel words and handle this that good old fashioned Euro-Style: I'm going to rely on a poll. You.
Take a look at these photos and tell me how I should rearrange the leading characters from the past and present. Then I'll share my "surprise" opinion. (Mon Dieu! Anything stronger than an opinion might upset people, especially the World Principal's Office on the East River in NYC.!)
Here's my opinion, for all two francs worth: Let's juxtapose a shot of Chamberlain shaking hands with Putin with Carla snuck in-between. Sorry Nicky.
Can the European Union, especially France and most especially Nicolas Sarkozy, to sit down and talk with the Russians who are far more comfortable dealing with and respecting nations demonstrating any backbone and desire to use, instead "hard power"?
Has there ever been a case in history or even your individual lives when you can recall when bullies took seriously anybody's notion of holding "continual dialogue" and "engagement"? In the real world of hard-ball politics and international power-plays, the bullies always succeed at first, and perhaps permanently, if nobody stands up to them. In our school playgrounds, the bullies always had free rein to pull their schtick until some kid or kids said "enough" and took action.
And by that I don't mean running off and complaining to the principal's office.
The West never gets this part down, and until we do, we're going to be continually finding ourselves at the mercy of the playground bullies for decades to come. If it's not the terrorists, now it's the Russians threatening to cut off more of our oil. Then it'll be our ever so friendly hosts in Beijing that Bush schmoozed with in addition to his pal Vlad up in the stands, knowing full well Vlad was letting his playground goons beat the tar out of some upstart Georgians who had the nerve to upset the international scheme of things by acting upon their right to defend the rights to their territorial integrity. Putin had his Sudentenland in Southern Ossestia tucked in Georgia proper, and he cleverly used the "Olympic Peace" to smash and grab.
And all Bush and Condolezza Rice could cough up was a "Naughty, naughty" through the words "isn't acceptable." Laughingly, you can always cut yourself some slack to excuse any inaction with the former comments, but what happens when it becomes more serious because you can't back up the latter?
Let us not be dismayed! The French are going to save the day! Why thanks to none other than France's President (LOL) Nicolas Sarkozy, the world can breath easier since he returned ala Neville Chamberlain from Munich, with yet another scrap of paper promising "peace in our times" from yet another bully, Vlad, the PAST, AND STI LL REAL BOSS OF RUSSIA. Dimitri Medvedev succeeded him in title only. And one only has to watch this guy in action to see how far up he'd climb the nearest drapes like a little mouse if Putin said "BOO."
Let's just sit back, watch France's Philanderer-in-Chief (whose amorous exploits and tastelessness makes Bill Clinton's sins of state and otherwise look venial -- yes, Mrs. Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, whatever your title is, you, too, CAN and SHOULD keep your clothes on the next time you desire to express frontal transparency on behalf of your husband's government.) LIke French diplomacy lately, there's a lot to be desired, no matter how transparent you try to make it. I'd rather hear from the original Mdme. Sarkozy on that score to find out how this new Neville Chamberlain really thinks before anyone sends him to deal with a realist like Putin.) Like Chamberlain, all Nicky came back with was yet another scrap sheet promising "peace in our times" -- with Georgia losing the pieces.
Surely it was refreshing to hear our Secretary of State Condi Rice blast Russia through its (state) "reporter" at the State Department a few days earlier when she reminded them days of pulling off another Prague back in '68 are finished. But do the Georgians know this yet?
Has Putin gotten Condi's stern-looked message? Reagan basically said the same thing back in 1981, but he at least was dealing with the gerontocracy that pulled off that heist in Prague and he had time on his side, not to mention a lack of dependency on Russian oil. Russia's a "capitalist" nation nowadays, but it ain't the kind we're used to (as often anymore.)
I poked around for several pics that'd be "appropriate" for this post. And I came up with a shot of Condi and Sarkozy, Sarkozy and Medvedev and Chamberlain and Hitler. Alas, I don't have enough grafting and doctoring skills when it comes to mangling photos to "make a point.," beside that of combat. No, I wanted to make a "diplomatic point" in this post.
Seeing this is the era of leaderlessleadership, I'm going to forcefully abdicate my rights to exercise full judgment, not to mention any sensible responsibility for my acts and weasel words and handle this that good old fashioned Euro-Style: I'm going to rely on a poll. You.
Take a look at these photos and tell me how I should rearrange the leading characters from the past and present. Then I'll share my "surprise" opinion. (Mon Dieu! Anything stronger than an opinion might upset people, especially the World Principal's Office on the East River in NYC.!)
Watch this guy, Condi!
Nicky & Dimi
Peacemakers
Here's my opinion, for all two francs worth: Let's juxtapose a shot of Chamberlain shaking hands with Putin with Carla snuck in-between. Sorry Nicky.
| 46 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
