Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Losing Latin America
With the election of Evo Morales to the presidency in Bolivia, we can safely say that the Bush administration lost Latin America. It did so in spite of its earlier promises to pay special attention to the region. Hugo Chavez, who Bush has handled poorly - most notably by displaying an ill-timed exuberance when a coup seemed to have occurred in Caracas - now has a new ally. Who would have thought that Fidel Castro would gain so many friends after the fall of his Soviet patrons? Our ability to prosecute the war on drugs will be further hampered.
This is, in part, the fruit of Bush's own inattention to the region. Potential allies like Mexico's Vicente Fox, have been ignored or poorly rewarded. The collapse of the Argentinian economy at the beginning of the decade brought a yawn from Washington, despite the damage this did to popular perceptions about free market economics throughout the region. In an era when we fight a global struggle, the support of Latin America would have been nice to have.
This is, in part, the fruit of Bush's own inattention to the region. Potential allies like Mexico's Vicente Fox, have been ignored or poorly rewarded. The collapse of the Argentinian economy at the beginning of the decade brought a yawn from Washington, despite the damage this did to popular perceptions about free market economics throughout the region. In an era when we fight a global struggle, the support of Latin America would have been nice to have.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Ahmadinejad's Refreshing Candor
I've wanted to post here for some time, but hadn't quite felt like it. I have a backlog of observations I'd like to move off the runway. I felt like writing this months ago when Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off the map. He has helpfully reminded me of what I originally wanted to say
As reported today, Ahmadinejad made headlines around the world by denying the Holocaust. In his words:
You have to appreciate the candor of the man.
You see, the to and fro of rhetoric about Israel's place in the Middle East has tended to obscure the continuing power of rejectionism - the view that Israel should be wiped off the map. Much of rejectionism is cloaked in less frank euphemisms - Arafat's favorite one was to speak of liberating Jerusalem. Ahmadinejad seemingly has no patience for verbal niceties, rather he has the bluntness of a Persian Bill O'Reilly. And we should thank him for that.
A more careful leader in Tehran - a slippery pseudo-reformer like Hashemi Rafsanjani - would be at ease muffling rejectionism and allowing European opinion to think that Iran could somehow be pacified. Ahmadinejad's bellicose utterances do more to awaken European statesmen to the serious risks posed by Iran's nuclear weapons program than the Bush administration ever could. Ahmadinejad's open embrace of hateful rhetoric has put Europe in the uncommon position of verbally defending Israel.
Ahmadinejad's constant recourse to Israel-baiting speaks volumes about his political position at home. Several of his appointments have been blocked by Iran's clerical elite. His economic policies are failing - and he campaigned not on being able to finally wipe out those darn Jews, but on his ability to deliver a better living standard to ordinary Iranians. With Ahmadinejad, extremism in Iran has put its best face forward. If and when he falls, no one will be able to restore the mullahcracy. And every act of his in the international arena seems to be expediting that day.
As reported today, Ahmadinejad made headlines around the world by denying the Holocaust. In his words:
- "Some European countries insist on saying that Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces, and they insist on it to the extent that if anyone proves something contrary to that, they condemn that person and throw them in jail," IRNA quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as saying.
"Although we don't accept this claim, if we suppose it is true, our question for the Europeans is: Is the killing of innocent Jewish people by Hitler the reason for their support to the occupiers of Jerusalem?" he said. "If the Europeans are honest, they should give some of their provinces in Europe - like in Germany, Austria or other countries - to the Zionists, and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe."
You have to appreciate the candor of the man.
You see, the to and fro of rhetoric about Israel's place in the Middle East has tended to obscure the continuing power of rejectionism - the view that Israel should be wiped off the map. Much of rejectionism is cloaked in less frank euphemisms - Arafat's favorite one was to speak of liberating Jerusalem. Ahmadinejad seemingly has no patience for verbal niceties, rather he has the bluntness of a Persian Bill O'Reilly. And we should thank him for that.
A more careful leader in Tehran - a slippery pseudo-reformer like Hashemi Rafsanjani - would be at ease muffling rejectionism and allowing European opinion to think that Iran could somehow be pacified. Ahmadinejad's bellicose utterances do more to awaken European statesmen to the serious risks posed by Iran's nuclear weapons program than the Bush administration ever could. Ahmadinejad's open embrace of hateful rhetoric has put Europe in the uncommon position of verbally defending Israel.
Ahmadinejad's constant recourse to Israel-baiting speaks volumes about his political position at home. Several of his appointments have been blocked by Iran's clerical elite. His economic policies are failing - and he campaigned not on being able to finally wipe out those darn Jews, but on his ability to deliver a better living standard to ordinary Iranians. With Ahmadinejad, extremism in Iran has put its best face forward. If and when he falls, no one will be able to restore the mullahcracy. And every act of his in the international arena seems to be expediting that day.
