Over here in Iran, I have gotten the chance to read more European papers and watch more European TV than I ever did back in the States -- and what I have discovered while reading up on the European POV is that Britain, Germany, France, etc. are currently in the midst of a terrible economic meltdown.
While it makes me sad to see individual Europeans hurting so much, does that make me feel sorry for Europe as a whole? Not really. Why should I? European nations have chosen their fate willingly and have simply received the logical consequences of their folly -- they trusted George Bush and he spit in their soup.
Back in 2003, Europe shoulda put its foot down. "Sorry, George, but invading Iraq is a REALLY stupid idea." But did Europe put its foot down? Nope.
Europe? It coulda-woulda-shoulda put its foot down with regard to Bush's so-called Roadmap to Disaster that has financed continual genocide in Gaza and the West Bank and also left Israel open and vulnerable to physical, economic and moral devastation.
According to the latest UN report on the Israel-Palestine situation, "Though the ceasefire had been generally effective in reducing the level of political violence, existing evidence showed a harsher regime of confinement and siege imposed on the population of Gaza. Such delays and denials of permission had resulted in a growing number of deaths, severe mental and physical suffering, and constituted a violation of the duty of the occupying Power to take all reasonable steps to protect the health and well-being of the population under occupation, [RICHARD FALK, Special Rapporteur for the United Nations] said."
But did Europe do anything to alleviate this accute humanitarian crisis? Not really.
And Europe could have put its foot down and said no to all of Bush's economic parlor tricks with the dollar that also put their euros at risk. Instead, Europe hardily embraced Bush's "shop til you drop" approach to credit. According to Iain Macwhirter of the New Statesman, "I visited Latvia at the height of the credit bubble 18 months ago, and it was clearly an accident waiting to happen. Riga, the capital, was bristling with upmarket shopping malls and classy bars that were all quite empty. Stalin-era flats were being sold for $200,000 in a country where the average wage was less than $400 a month. Latvia has hardly any industry, no energy and few natural resources apart from trees. But such was the irrational exuberance of foreign banks like Swedbank, [that] it was awash with credit."
Heck, even I could see the way things were going back then -- that we were heading toward a war-torn world, an international financial crisis. Yet despite all the obvious handwriting on the wall between 2000 and now, Europe has blindly done nothing except kiss Bush's [hind-quarters].
But maybe I'm being too hard on Europe -- because Europe hasn't been operating in a vacuum all this time and hasn't been alone in its folly either. Imagine what Russia and China could have done to rein in Cowboy George too. And Japan, Latin America and Africa -- not to mention the Americans who freaking let GWB steal two elections and start an unnecessary war? Even Iceland could have made its move -- but no. Everyone just sat around idlely picking their noses and letting Bush, Cheney and them do whatever their little hearts desired.
And what has Bush done to reward such loyal behavior? He has spit in our soup.
Stillwater is a freelance writer who hates injustice and corruption in any form but especially injustice and corruption paid for by American taxpayers. She has recently published a book entitled, "Bring Your Own Flak Jacket: Helpful Tips For Touring Today's Middle East". According to Ms. Stillwater, "It's a fabulous and entertaining book. I loved writing it. And I hope that you will love reading it too." It's available at http://www.amazon.com/Bring-Your-Own-Flak-Jacket/dp/0978615719 or you can special order it at any independent bookstore.
"Back in 2003, Europe shoulda put its foot down. "Sorry, George, but invading Iraq is a REALLY stupid idea." But did Europe put its foot down? Nope. "
Did you stop watching tv and reading newspapers in 2003? Have you forgotten that Germany, France and Russia were against the US invasion of Iraq, said so clearly at the UN, and that France and Russia threatened to use their veto? (Germany, having no seat on the Permanent Security Council, does not have veto power like those two countries).
Why do you think French fries were renamed freedom fries, French wines were poured in the gutter and French bashing became all the rage for a while in the US? Then President Chirac and his minister Villepin made abundantly clear what they thought of this inept war. What else did you want them to do? Bomb all American fast food outlets in France, nuke the White House? France paid dearly economically-- in fact lost million of $, for its opposition to Bush's stupidity--cancelled contracts, loss of American tourists, etc. I know, one of my acquaintances was part of an economic mission sent to the US to try to do damage control when the losses kept piling up.
And what sort of protracted reasonment is this: the European countries are guilty of the car wreck because they did not try hard enough to stop the cretinous bully who drove the car? I certainly wish Blair and Eastern European countries had opposed Bush firmly, but the main culprit of the car wreck is the bully who drove the car--and those who put him in the driver seat.
May I remind you that Europeans don't vote in US elections and therefore cannot be held responsible for the bad leaders we elect and the bad choices they make ? Those who should be held responsible are the people who voted for Bush in 2000, and of course those who helped him steal a close election.
By the way, when European matters are dealt with on this forum, it's often without elementary knowledge of the most basic data: a week or so ago,I read an article mentioning that Sarkozy was the French "PM". Well, he is the President of France. What degree of seriousness would you grant to an article written by a foreign author stating that George W. Bush is a US Secretary of State? Editors, with due respect and consideration for your hard work, you should not let this type of major error slip through, it does no good to OEN's image.
by
francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 378 comments)
on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 8:35:53 AM
The US Congress authorized the actions of President Bush without doing their homework. Now they have refused to Impeach the President for his illegal actions, which also makes them guilty.
For President - USA Candidate: BOB BARR - AIPAC Candidates: McCain & Obama
by
Anton Grambihler (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 301 comments)
on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 12:24:30 PM
5 comments
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