Check... 11 July 2008
BROWN: Joe, Joe Madison, do you think it's arrogant for him to do this? JOE MADISON, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: First of all, he's not worried about people like Joe. Secondly... PAGLIARULO: Oh, yes, he is. I'm an American. And I have a vote. Oh, yes, he is. Oh, yes, he is. BROWN: Go ahead, Joe. MADISON: I didn't interrupt you. Secondly, he was invited by the mayor of Berlin. He didn't beg or ask to come. He was invited. Thirdly, I would agree with Joe that if the German people don't want him, the German government doesn't want him to speak there, he shouldn't. But, you know, I think Barack Obama is far more clever than you even give him for, because had this controversy never arrived, I think he would have flown to Germany, gave a speech, maybe a one-day hit on the news. Now we're going to be talking about it before he goes, while he's there, and when he comes back. And let me add one more thing. A German newspaper had a front- page photograph of the White House with Obama's name on it, and referred to it as "Uncle Tom's Cabin." That should be insulting to all of us. But I'm saying, if in fact he goes, then he should do what German officials allow him to do, because he will be a guest. Read more...
But, you know, I think Barack Obama is far more clever than you even give him for, because had this controversy never arrived, I think he would have flown to Germany, gave a speech, maybe a one-day hit on the news. Now we're going to be talking about it before he goes, while he's there, and when he comes back.
And let me add one more thing. A German newspaper had a front- page photograph of the White House with Obama's name on it, and referred to it as "Uncle Tom's Cabin." That should be insulting to all of us. But I'm saying, if in fact he goes, then he should do what German officials allow him to do, because he will be a guest.
Read more...
Check... 23 July 2008
This is the moment when every nation in Europe must have the chance to choose its own tomorrow free from the shadows of yesterday. In this century, we need a strong European Union that deepens the security and prosperity of this continent, while extending a hand abroad. In this century - in this city of all cities - we must reject the Cold War mind-set of the past, and resolve to work with Russia when we can, to stand up for our values when we must, and to seek a partnership that extends across this entire continent. This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many. Together, we must forge trade that truly rewards the work that creates wealth, with meaningful protections for our people and our planet. This is the moment for trade that is free and fair for all. Read more...
This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many. Together, we must forge trade that truly rewards the work that creates wealth, with meaningful protections for our people and our planet. This is the moment for trade that is free and fair for all.
Check. 27 July 2008
MR. BROKAW: ...so everyone will know what you've been doing. A week ago on Saturday you were in Kuwait visiting troops. On Sunday you moved to Afghanistan, where you visited troops and met with President Karzai. Monday, the epicenter of the trip, Baghdad, meeting with Prime Minister Maliki and American commanders. Tuesday you were in Amman, Jordan, with the king of that country, King Abdullah. And Wednesday meeting a variety of Israeli leaders and a prominent Palestinian. Thursday you were in Berlin meeting with the German Chancellor Merkel, and you gave a speech to a huge throng at Brandenburg Gate. Friday, in Paris, meeting with President Sarkozy of France. Saturday, in London, meeting with Tony Blair, the former prime minister, then with Gordon Brown, the current prime minister, and with David Cameron as well, who is the opposition leader in this country where there's a fair amount of political turmoil here as well. SEN. OBAMA: It makes me, makes me tired just listening to you read it. MR. BROKAW: When you get home and Michelle says to you, "Barack, what did you learn that surprised you? And did you change your mind about anything based on this entire trip?" SEN. OBAMA: Well, I, I, I didn't see a huge shift in the strategic policies that I've laid out throughout this campaign. It was clear to me that Afghanistan is the central front on terror, that the Taliban and al-Qaeda have reconstituted themselves. They are--they have safe havens along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Our troops are doing an outstanding job, and many coalition troops are doing an outstanding job. But frankly, we need a, a, a more serious effort on the part of the Afghan government and President Karzai to get out of Kabul, to start the development process. We're going to need two additional brigades in Afghanistan and we've got to work with Pakistan to get serious about these terrorist safe havens. So that's got to be a priority. I was pleased to see the reductions in violence in Iraq. And there's no doubt that we have seen violence lessen, our troops are performing in an extraordinary fashion. The Sunni awakening has helped to eliminate, if not eliminate, then greatly lessen the possibilities of al-Qaeda reconstituting itself as a big and effective force. And the fact that Prime Minister Maliki is ready to take on more responsibility for the security of their country, I think is a positive development. Read more...
SEN. OBAMA: It makes me, makes me tired just listening to you read it.
MR. BROKAW: When you get home and Michelle says to you, "Barack, what did you learn that surprised you? And did you change your mind about anything based on this entire trip?" SEN. OBAMA: Well, I, I, I didn't see a huge shift in the strategic policies that I've laid out throughout this campaign. It was clear to me that Afghanistan is the central front on terror, that the Taliban and al-Qaeda have reconstituted themselves. They are--they have safe havens along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Our troops are doing an outstanding job, and many coalition troops are doing an outstanding job. But frankly, we need a, a, a more serious effort on the part of the Afghan government and President Karzai to get out of Kabul, to start the development process. We're going to need two additional brigades in Afghanistan and we've got to work with Pakistan to get serious about these terrorist safe havens. So that's got to be a priority. I was pleased to see the reductions in violence in Iraq. And there's no doubt that we have seen violence lessen, our troops are performing in an extraordinary fashion. The Sunni awakening has helped to eliminate, if not eliminate, then greatly lessen the possibilities of al-Qaeda reconstituting itself as a big and effective force. And the fact that Prime Minister Maliki is ready to take on more responsibility for the security of their country, I think is a positive development.
Check. 5 April 2009
None of these challenges can be solved quickly or easily. But all of them demand that we listen to one another and work together; that we focus on our common interests, not our occasional differences; and that we reaffirm our shared values, which are stronger than any force that could drive us apart. That is the work that we must carry on. That is the work that I have come to Europe to begin. To renew our prosperity, we need action coordinated across borders. That means investments to create new jobs. That means resisting the walls of protectionism that stand in the way of growth. That means a change in our financial system, with new rules to prevent abuse and future crisis. And we have an obligation to our common prosperity and our common humanity to extend a hand to those emerging markets and impoverished people who are suffering the most, which is why we set aside over a trillion dollars for the International Monetary Fund earlier this week. Read more...
To renew our prosperity, we need action coordinated across borders. That means investments to create new jobs. That means resisting the walls of protectionism that stand in the way of growth. That means a change in our financial system, with new rules to prevent abuse and future crisis. And we have an obligation to our common prosperity and our common humanity to extend a hand to those emerging markets and impoverished people who are suffering the most, which is why we set aside over a trillion dollars for the International Monetary Fund earlier this week.
Check. 6 June 2009
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice; we went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with. Now, make no mistake: We do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military -- we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case. And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths -- but more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as if he has killed all mankind. (Applause.) And the Holy Koran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. (Applause.) The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism -- it is an important part of promoting peace. Read more...
Now, make no mistake: We do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military -- we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.
And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths -- but more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as if he has killed all mankind. (Applause.) And the Holy Koran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. (Applause.) The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism -- it is an important part of promoting peace.
Check. 11 July 2009
Some you know my grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him "boy" for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya's liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn't simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade -- it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year. My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at a moment of extraordinary promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. (Applause.) Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways, and history was on the move. But despite the progress that has been made -- and there has been considerable progress in many parts of Africa -- we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born. They have badly been outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism, even despair. Now, it's easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner. Read more...
My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at a moment of extraordinary promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. (Applause.) Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways, and history was on the move.
But despite the progress that has been made -- and there has been considerable progress in many parts of Africa -- we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born. They have badly been outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent.
In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism, even despair. Now, it's easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner.
und so weiter Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
The Times article trivialises US EU relations, highlights the whinges of bystanders, and highlights a comment by Barroso which may or may not have substance but gives no prominence to anything else he might have said on concrete proposals for enhanced US EU cooperation.
I suspect this is for the same reason the Times didn't critique "Europe's" move away from Keynesian economic policies: It supports neo-lib economic policies and it wants to trivialise the EU as much as possible because of its Eurosceptic policies.
What Obama has or has not done is irrelevant: any chance to depict the Europeans as ineffectual or Obama as unsuccessful is a chance too good to be missed... Index of Frank's Diaries
Perhaps it is these phrases MEPs prefer not repeated. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
Partners in Terror?
Coalition of the Spilling? ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Partners My comment responds with --shall we say factual premises-- to another comment attempting to explain a "relationship" between members of two --EP and US-- institutional bodies and their wide-ranging policy objectives. Let us note here that "relationship" is ambiguous diction and commentary here and there scarcely bothers to interrogate the apprehension (dread; arrest; understanding) of intent and result, commercial or diplomatic, disguised by its usage; whereas "partner," being a specific type of relationship, which by definition forecloses contemplation in the reader of uncoordinated (but not incompetent) and mutually exclusive organizational goals.
Obviously I do not think the distinction is trivial, when commentators assume a duty to evaluate the extent of "European" political independence as compared to US political independence (vaunted hegemony), according to inferences drawn from statistical measures of popular opinion or idiosyncratic speeches. A rigorous examination of events would illustrate the type of "relationship" in force demonstrates simply by example: To what extent does EP legislation cooperate with US legislation and to what extent does such cooperation curtail or subordinate the agency of each state's constituents and sovereignty of legislatures to a patent political economy of domination?
Such an enquiry is impossible if an analyst is incapable of asking the questions which might upset the apple cart of "good speeches" and rotten conspiracy theories.
Data privacy, NSA detention, and GMO trade; finance "reform" and fiscal rationalization; immigrant sanctions and surveillance; war production; and sexual discrimination: These issues represent a few, recent legislative acts that pass muster of "partnership" with the US government in marketing --distributing, advertising-- terror and free trade.
A subtext to the abundance of animated PR produced by state celebrities --notably Mr Obama's singular representations and symbolic feelings about US "interests" (legal usage) by contrast to the multilateral messaging system employed by Council members-- is the press analyst's confidence as to whether actualized policies are mutually beneficial or exclusive to either the "interests" of government agents or expressed "interests" of the general populaces for whom these agents purportedly act. The analyst's ambivalence about claiming "the right side" of The Agency Problem for the current US president is abject.
Terror and free trade Following is the sort of remark that illustrates the disingenuous discourse one might have come to expect from Sarkozy's appointees, in particular, and MEP jingoists, generally. It is incredible. It is incredible in light of historical events. It is incredible in light of eight, long, and defensive years of surrender monkey and poodle "meme" flinging. I cannot recall an instance in US history, when a president's or Congressional majority's "interest" in local or international European affairs was not wholly motivated by financial opportunism. Not one -- Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, FDR, Truman, Ike, Nixon [WTF], Clinton. The diplomatic strategy, if it may be so-called, advanced by Mr Obama's administration to collect state "partners" hither and yon has not deviated one iota from this American "tradition."
"A senior aide to President Sarkozy of France said: 'Obama does not come from the same tradition as his predecessors. He is interested in Asia and Russia, not Europe.
Furthermore, both US and European states' "interest" in Asia --including Pacific Rim-- and eventually insurgent Russia is more than 100-years-old and reeks of the most foul odour of racism and genocide in practice. The anonymous bureaucrat continues.
There is no sense of a privileged relationship. They seem to take us for granted sometimes.
Such is the principle of opportunism: The surfeit of forethought, planning or ethics, that predicates a beneficial result of action; charitably characterized as the ability of an individual or an organization to respond, or adapt its behavior, to unexpected stressors. The EP presents no stress to US "interests" which are diverse. Whence emerges a highly sexualized, approving characterization --dare I say homophobia?-- of the "relationship" of the representatives of European peoples to the promiscuous Mandigo Swedish-like persona of the US shuttling about the free world murmuring, "Baby, you so fine."
He's not your boyfriend. And he could use a lot more focus on domestic issues.
I will resist the temptation to analyze the paradox implied by "partner" in this context. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
