Tag Archives: diplomacy

Will President Obama Ask Mitchell to Resign? (Updated)

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Click to visit Sky News site.

Talk about irony.  On the very day that CNN published a glowing report about former Sen. George Mitchell’s diplomatic efforts in Northern Ireland, violence erupted at a British Army barracks on the Emerald Isle.

Yesterday, the Atlanta-based cable news network published a Mitchell-adoring piece on its web site under the headline, Out of trouble: How diplomacy brought peace to Northern Ireland.  Hardly subliminal, the piece seemed to be focused on inspiring left-handed (i.e., liberal) applause for the man President Barack Obama named recently as his Middle East envoy.

A short time later, however, Sky News provided a different flavor of news from the Emerald Isle under the headline, Army Barracks Shooting: Two Soldiers Dead:

The two soldiers shot dead at an army barracks in Northern Ireland were killed as pizza was being delivered – two delivery boys are among the wounded.

And several paragraphs later:

The attack happened just 36 hours after Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said undercover soldiers had been called in to carry out surveillance operations on dissidents.

This was amid warnings the threat against his officers and military personnel was at its highest for almost a decade.

What is one to think about Mitchell, the man so many on the left credit with negotiating a 1998 peace accord, after the apparent failure of his “Mitchell Principles” in Northern Ireland?  Was he properly vetted?  Will President Obama ask him to resign?

Developing…

UPDATE 3-09-09 at 4:41 p.m: The headline on the front page (right) of The (UK) Daily Telegraph newspaper today tells all.  A follow-up story shows the attack, by a group calling itself the Real IRA, captured on closed-circuit television cameras.

UPDATE 3-10-09 at 1:58 p.m: Sky News is reporting that a police officer on patrol in Northern Ireland was shot dead in what’s been described as an “evil deed” by terrorists.

Which Style of Diplomacy Might Hillary Employ?

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Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton

Which style of diplomacy might Secretary of State Hillary Clinton use while globetrotting on behalf of President Barack Obama — the one she displayed yesterday at Foggy Bottom or the less-refined “blue streak” form she reserves for more private conversations?

Not a profane word was used yesterday when the former first lady stood in front of State Department employees and members of the news media for the first time at Foggy Bottom. That appearance stands in stark contrast to the manner in which Clinton conducts business behind closed doors.

Below are several examples of the less-refined style of “diplomacy” used by Clinton over the years as published today at Gateway Pundit:

CAUTION:  Direct quotes from Clinton, gleaned from a variety of sources, contain offensive language and have been edited for publication.

  • “Where is the G-damn f**king flag? I want the G-damn f**king flag up every f**king morning at f**king sunrise.” (From the book, “Inside The White House,” by Ronald Kessler, page 244 – Hillary to the staff at the Arkansas Governor’s mansion on Labor Day, 1991)
  • F**k off! It’s enough that I have to see you shit-kickers every day, I’m not going to talk to you too!! Just do your G*damn job and keep your mouth shut.” (From the book, “American Evita,” by Christopher Anderson, page 90 – Hillary to her State Trooper bodyguards after one of them greeted her with “Good morning.”
  • “If you want to remain on this detail, get your f**king ass over here and grab those bags!” (From the book, “The First Partner,” by Joyce Milton, page 259 – Hillary to a Secret Service Agent who was reluctant to carry her luggage because he wanted to keep his hands free in case of an incident.)
  • “Stay the f**k back, stay the f**k away from me! Don’t come within ten yards of me, or else! Just f**king do as I say, Okay!!!?” (From the book, “Unlimited Access,” by Clinton FBI Agent in Charge, Gary Aldrich, page 139 – Hillary screaming at her Secret Service detail.)
  • “Where’s the miserable c**k sucker?” (From the book, “The Truth About Hillary,” by Edward Klein, page 5 – Hillary shouting at a Secret Service officer)
  • A right-wing network was after his presidency…including perverting the Constitution.” (To Barbara Walters about the Republicans who impeached her husband; 20/20, ABC 6/8/2003.)
  • “What are you doing inviting these people into my home? These people are our enemies! They are trying to destroy us!” (From the book, “The Survivor,” by John Harris, page 99 – Hillary screaming to an aide, when she found out that some Republicans had been invited to the Clinton White House)
  • “Come on Bill, put your d**k up! You can’t f**k her here!!” (From the book, “Inside The White House,” by Ronald Kessler, page 243 – Hillary to Gov. Clinton when she spots him talking with an attractive female at an Arkansas political rally)

Perhaps she’s related to Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) and his wife, Patti.  They are, after all, quite well known for their use of vengeful and profane language.

Blogger Chats with Former Ambassador to Israel

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As promised in a post this morning, I made a guest appearance on BBC’s WORLD Have Your Say program at Noon (Central). To my surprise, the appearance afforded me the opportunity to exchange views on the subject of diplomacy versus appeasement with some real foreign affairs heavyweights, including Daniel C. Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

Sitting across a virtual table from Ambassador Kurtzer, I was able to offer several observations on the subject. Below are links to some of the web sites from which I drew several key points for the on-air discussion:

From the BarackObama.com section about Iran…

  • Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress.

From a Victor Davis Hanson article at NationalReview.com…

  • Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.

From Jed Babbin’s article, The New Appeasers, at HumanEvents.com…

  • Diplomats buy and sell; appeasers just give things away. And that difference is something Barack Obama has yet to learn.
  • An appeaser is someone who is willing to compromise his nation’s interests without obtaining an equal or greater concession from the adversary. History’s most famous appeaser, Neville Chamberlain, gave the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Hitler in 1938 and received nothing in return. Having been appeased — and thus given time to further build his military might — Hitler attacked a year later, conquering Poland and igniting the largest and most murderous war in history.
  • In Churchill’s more literary definition, an appeaser is someone who feeds the crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.

To listen to the podcast of today’s program, visit this site.

Blogger to Make Guest Appearance on BBC

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A BBC Radio producer called this morning to invite me to appear as a guest during the first hour of today’s WORLD Have Your Say program that airs at Noon (Central) or 5 p.m. (GMT). Today’s topic: When does diplomacy become appeasement?

After turning down several invitations during the past year, I decided to accept today’s invitation because of the subject matter being discussed. This will mark my fourth appearance on the program in the past two years.

During my most-recent appearance in April 2007, I discussed the crisis in Darfur. Prior to that, show topics included Nancy Pelosi, and the case of the so-called “Haditha Marines.”

If you’re interested in participating in the program, there are several ways to do that:

Call: +44 20 70 83 72 72

Send a text message: +44 77 86 20 60 80

Send an e-mail message: worldhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

Listen live here.

Listen to the podcast here.

Check back this afternoon as I’ll be posting an update after the show.