There's no question that George w. Bush has crippled America's standing in the world. Bush never understood the narrow limits of American power or the degree of Washington's interdependence on America's allies. He failed to grasp his country's real strengths or its weaknesses.
It's tempting to judge America's health by looking at its rivals and potential adversaries, particularly China. But it may be events in Europe that are most telling. Once again we return to America's love/hate relationship with France.
When he came to power, Nicolas Sarkozy seemed to be Bush's instant BFF. Lately, however, Sarkozy has been staking out turf in a way that's decidedly anti-American.
The global meltdown triggered by the spread of bogus US derivative securities throughout world markets apparently infuriated Sarkozy. He saw the world's markets thrown into disarray by American greed and mismanagement. The second part of the one-two punch was the crisis in Georgia fueled by America's relentless pressure to push NATO to the very borders of Russia. Sarkozy hasn't come right out and said it but it's apparent that he sees NATO for what it's become under Bush, America's Foreign Legion.
Sarkozy knows that America's NATO policy toward eastern Europe has little or nothing to do with democracy and a great deal to do with securing control of the Caspian Basin oil and gas reserves. Georgia and Ukraine are essential to getting pipelines to bring that energy west and out of Russian domination. The alternative are pipelines running straight through the insurgent strongholds of Afghanistan and the unreliable and troubled regions of Pakistan. Washington has been remarkably indifferent to the headaches caused Europe by destablizing its relationship with Russia.
So what has Naughty Nick done? Without consulting the Americans, he's announced a European-Russian summit next summer to define Europe's future security relationship with Russia. America is invited to attend, of course, but Sarkozy has made it clear that Europe will make its own deals, in its own interests. It won't be shackled to American geopolitics any longer.
Then, in the aftermath of Bush's world economic summit convened to deal with the made-in-America/inflicted-upon-the-world meltdown, Sarkozy again gave Bush one up alongside the head. After leaving the meeting claiming to have tamed the animal instincts of America capitalism, the French president returned home to announce he'll be holding his own summit on the same problem in just a few weeks time, taking the Americans by surprise. From today's New York Times:
"Mr. Sarkozy said nothing about his plans to convene a meeting to President Bush or the 18 other leaders while he was here. A senior European diplomat said he found the French proposal “amazing,” while an American official said that that would be a charitable description.
"French officials said the gathering on Jan. 8 and 9, which is to be co-hosted by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is merely a conference, intended to bring together political leaders and prominent thinkers to discuss issues like globalization and the values of capitalism.
"..Much of this is posturing by ambitious leaders, but it also reflects a genuine philosophical debate about how best to fix the fractured global markets.
"On one side is Mr. Sarkozy, the supercharged French leader, determined to keep the initiative on what many in Europe regard as a long-overdue discussion of the excesses of American-style capitalism.
"On the other is Mr. Bush, playing out his final weeks in office but unwilling to allow Europeans, especially the French, to dominate the debate on how to overhaul international financial regulations.
"Certainly, the two leaders had sharply different interpretations of what happened at the meeting. Mr. Sarkozy portrayed it as a shift in power, saying, “Europe for the first time expressed its clear determination.” Americans had “never, ever” been willing to negotiate these kinds of regulatory changes, he said."
Last month Sarkozy called for an end to American style "speculative capitalism" and the institution of a new, global economic order based on what he termed "entrepreneurial capitalism" in its place. He's gone on record claiming he'll settle for nothing less than a "new financial world" with tough, international regulation.
It's tempting to judge America's health by looking at its rivals and potential adversaries, particularly China. But it may be events in Europe that are most telling. Once again we return to America's love/hate relationship with France.
When he came to power, Nicolas Sarkozy seemed to be Bush's instant BFF. Lately, however, Sarkozy has been staking out turf in a way that's decidedly anti-American.
The global meltdown triggered by the spread of bogus US derivative securities throughout world markets apparently infuriated Sarkozy. He saw the world's markets thrown into disarray by American greed and mismanagement. The second part of the one-two punch was the crisis in Georgia fueled by America's relentless pressure to push NATO to the very borders of Russia. Sarkozy hasn't come right out and said it but it's apparent that he sees NATO for what it's become under Bush, America's Foreign Legion.
Sarkozy knows that America's NATO policy toward eastern Europe has little or nothing to do with democracy and a great deal to do with securing control of the Caspian Basin oil and gas reserves. Georgia and Ukraine are essential to getting pipelines to bring that energy west and out of Russian domination. The alternative are pipelines running straight through the insurgent strongholds of Afghanistan and the unreliable and troubled regions of Pakistan. Washington has been remarkably indifferent to the headaches caused Europe by destablizing its relationship with Russia.
So what has Naughty Nick done? Without consulting the Americans, he's announced a European-Russian summit next summer to define Europe's future security relationship with Russia. America is invited to attend, of course, but Sarkozy has made it clear that Europe will make its own deals, in its own interests. It won't be shackled to American geopolitics any longer.
Then, in the aftermath of Bush's world economic summit convened to deal with the made-in-America/inflicted-upon-the-world meltdown, Sarkozy again gave Bush one up alongside the head. After leaving the meeting claiming to have tamed the animal instincts of America capitalism, the French president returned home to announce he'll be holding his own summit on the same problem in just a few weeks time, taking the Americans by surprise. From today's New York Times:
"Mr. Sarkozy said nothing about his plans to convene a meeting to President Bush or the 18 other leaders while he was here. A senior European diplomat said he found the French proposal “amazing,” while an American official said that that would be a charitable description.
"French officials said the gathering on Jan. 8 and 9, which is to be co-hosted by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is merely a conference, intended to bring together political leaders and prominent thinkers to discuss issues like globalization and the values of capitalism.
"..Much of this is posturing by ambitious leaders, but it also reflects a genuine philosophical debate about how best to fix the fractured global markets.
"On one side is Mr. Sarkozy, the supercharged French leader, determined to keep the initiative on what many in Europe regard as a long-overdue discussion of the excesses of American-style capitalism.
"On the other is Mr. Bush, playing out his final weeks in office but unwilling to allow Europeans, especially the French, to dominate the debate on how to overhaul international financial regulations.
"Certainly, the two leaders had sharply different interpretations of what happened at the meeting. Mr. Sarkozy portrayed it as a shift in power, saying, “Europe for the first time expressed its clear determination.” Americans had “never, ever” been willing to negotiate these kinds of regulatory changes, he said."
Last month Sarkozy called for an end to American style "speculative capitalism" and the institution of a new, global economic order based on what he termed "entrepreneurial capitalism" in its place. He's gone on record claiming he'll settle for nothing less than a "new financial world" with tough, international regulation.
2 comments:
I've been wondering who would take the bull by the horns in Europe. Blair couldn't possibly do it as he would appear as disloyal to his great friend Bush. There is also a "love hate" attitude on the part of American government toward the British as well. Americans have tried to distance themselves for years. Even to the point of trying to change the English language and spelling. Mr. Sarkozy is absolutely spot on. I'd love to read about or hear a discussion regarding the right of people to own a home as well. It's about time Americans were called on their lack of knowing what the word "sustainability" means and accountable for their greed. Internation regulation is needed as China is headed in the same direction as the Americans. A. Morris
I've been wondering who would take the bull by the horns in Europe. Blair couldn't possibly do it as he would appear as disloyal to his great friend Bush. There is also a "love hate" attitude on the part of American government toward the British as well. Americans have tried to distance themselves for years. Even to the point of trying to change the English language and spelling. Mr. Sarkozy is absolutely spot on. I'd love to read about or hear a discussion regarding the right of people to own a home as well. It's about time Americans were called on their lack of knowing what the word "sustainability" means and accountable for their greed. International regulation is needed as China is headed in the same direction as the Americans. A. Morris
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