Thanks, Uncle Sam

Published by Tom

April 6, 2007

Link: Charles Krauthammer on Iran on National Review Online.

I am sick of the cheap anti-Americanism of the British media. The Guardian, in particular, would back Satan himself in any conflict with the United States. The supposedly conservative rags are little better. Even the otherwise sound Jeremy Clarkson is unhinged on this subject.

OK, so our own superpower days are ancient history. Perhaps we can be excused for having forgotten that envy and resentment goes with the territory. But do we really have to join the envious and resentful ourselves?

It seems from the linked article that America quietly traded some Iranian "assets" in Iraq (spies and trainers of terrorists) for our sailors and marines. This, after the first Foreign Secretary from the Caravan Club was beaten to the diplomatic punch by Channel 4; after the EU refused even to threaten trade sanctions against Iran and after the UN Security Council all but spat in our eye. As Mark Steyn puts it

The British ambassador to the U.N. had wanted the Security Council to
pass a resolution ”deploring” Iran’s conduct. But the Russians
objected to all this hotheaded inflammatory lingo about ”deploring,”
and so the Security Council instead expressed its ”grave concern”
about the situation. That and $4.95 will get you a decaf latte. Ask the
folks in Darfur what they’ve got to show for years of the U.N.’s "grave
concerns" — heavy on the graves, less so on the concern.

Understandably, Americans are irritated by European midge-bites:

The capture and release of the 15 British hostages illustrate once again the fatuousness of the “international community” and its great institutions. You want your people back? Go to the EU and get stiffed. Go to the Security Council and get a statement that refuses even to “deplore” this act of piracy. (You settle for a humiliating expression of “grave concern”). Then turn to the despised Americans. They’ll deal some cards and bail you out.

Uncle Sam may not be the perfect ally. But he’s the best one we’ve got. The occasional "thank you" might not go amiss.

8 responses to “Thanks, Uncle Sam”

Colin Campbell

April 6, 2007

This explanation seems more likely. I just couldn’t fathom why the Iranians would just decide to be nice and release the sailors for Easter. It is a cruel world out there. The behaviour of the EU is the one that bothers me the most. I can understand the Russian and Chinese positions with their commercial interests.
I liked the Jeremy Clarkson link. He is a character. Perhaps he should be appointed as Foreign Secretary. You have to believe that he would stand up for UK interests.

LikeLike

Reply
Dave Petterson

April 6, 2007

I love the Americans. They ain’t perfect but who is? I’ve always believed we should do a proper study to see if we should join with them or the EU and go for it. They would deal with us I’m sure.
The EU has shown how ineffective it is. Hopefully, it’s opened a few eyes.
I find it curious in this instance that it took the Americans to do a deal. What did they really give up?

LikeLike

Reply
Welshcakes Limoncello

April 6, 2007

Tp, no one in Italy believed for a moment that a deal of some sort was not done. But they don’t think that the British believe it either! agree with you re the Americans.
Happy Easter from Sicily and thank you for all your wonderful blogging.

LikeLike

Reply
Ruthie

April 7, 2007

It’s kind of nice to know that we aren’t universally reviled outside the United States.
Mark Steyn’s quote is really eloquently put. “Heavy on the graves, less so on the concern.”
Thanks. Lovely post.

LikeLike

Reply
Brent

April 8, 2007

Back to back to back headlines from the BBC:
– CIA tortured me, says Iran envoy
– Iran seeks goodwill on captives
– US hostility towards Iran
Obviously, the world has been turned on its collective head.
And with the BBC’s new definition of torture as “blindfolding,” I’ll assume the Iranian envoy has a speedy recovery…
Great blog, btw.

LikeLike

Reply
JohnM

April 8, 2007

Whilst not being dismissive of the theory that US releases underlay the Iranian releases, let me suggest an alternative.
British Marines were captured. Whether this occured by Iranian design locally or nationally, or whether it was a spontaneous initiative I’ll pass by – the Iranians now possess hostages.
It seems to me that knowing they have a western media prepared to bend over backwards to explain their point of view (eg. witness the Robert Fisk Independent “humilation” cover), they would be best served by holding them for a period long enough to gain maximum publicity and then release them. This serves a number of ends
1. It diverts attention away from the real cause of Iranian isolation. The UK media talked little about Iranian nuclear intransigence and a lot about US/UK threats. We even had articles describing this event as a clear attempt by the UK to create a causus belli, with few pausing to consider whether, if true, the Iranians might have been better to ignore it.
2. By releasing the hostages at this time, the Iranians will have reinforced the message of the “more negotiations” commentators over those who are more belligerent. Given the Iranian objective to develop for nuclear weapons, any tactic that gives them more time is valuable.
3. The Iranians could indeed have held onto these hostages longer, but given the nature of the media, coverage would gradually diminish. Over time, people’s natural empathy towards people falsely imprisoned would begin to reassert itself. Without media coverage to “explain” the Iranian justification, people’s ability to “understand” the Iranian reaction would not exist. We need to be constantly told that the Iranians are the real victims in order to counteract our natural understanding of them as the true threat.
Given the nature of western media, the Iranians played a blinder. If they also secured the release of several of their compatriots then they achieved an additional bonus.

LikeLike

Reply
Ben There

April 9, 2007

As an American, it is not surprising we did a little deal to get the British abductees out. And nobody here cares about the Guardian or its ilk. For that matter, Jeremy Clarkson is hilariously tough on everybody. We did the right thing getting those personnel out of there. We should have, and probably would have, done it for any western country. But I doubt I will ever see the day when we do not support the UK unflinchingly.
All the positive press and lobbying groups for other countries mean very little to us. We just like Britain more than any other country. It is interesting to me that Americans hardly even question it. Every student spends his third year of high school reading Beowulf and Julius Caesar in English Literature but has never seen a British tabloid. Winston Churchill’s old broadcast is on the History Channel telling us that “Wars are not won by evacuations” and we have no idea your current politicians are pygmies like our own. We would all like a Jaguar, but would be amused to know that many or most Englishmen drive cars that would fit nicely in the bed of a Chevy pick-up. We enjoy the fruits of England and know little else of the UK.
And that is fine with me. Several months ago there was a line in front of the Bronte shelf at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Saginaw, Michigan, the day after the Jane Eyre mini-series finished on TV. I was there to get a copy for my girlfriend. Considering that Saginaw is now the most violent city in America and my girlfriend’s stepbrother is in Fallujah for his second hitch, we have our own quotidian problems. So as long as you keep inspiring us with the likes of Shakespeare, Churchill, and the XJ8, you can probably count on our unquestioned support.
Best wishes on this fine blog.

LikeLike

Reply
Blandly Urbane

April 13, 2007

Quite a few Americans dislike themselves as well.
“Common conceptions of what is right and decent, a marked regard for fair play, especially to the weak and poor, a stern sentiment of impartial justice and above all a love of personal freedom . . . these are the common conceptions on both sides of the ocean among the English-speaking peoples.” Winston Churchill
I guess we’ve all come a long way….

LikeLike

Reply