The U.S. and Wikileaks
Now that we getting used to our new breakfast diet of the latest Wiki leak, we can get this whole drama in a better perspective. It is not as big as it seemed and, in the view of many including this Blog, America has nothing to be embarrassed about, or ashamed of, in the disclosures. They tend to show some shrewd, often prescient, assessment of world leaders and events.
Nobody is surprised by the sometimes unflattering portrait of politicians, whose sense of self importance can often do with a prick. Somebody was right to describe the British fetish about the special relationship as corrosive, especially when it provokes fawning acquiescence, when candour of the kind in which the American diplomats engage would be more helpful to everyone.
I have many times said that common heritage and blood ties make America more than a relationship to Britain. We are family. Families sometimes fall out and sometimes disagree, but in the end they are family and will always be there. Once we descend into staying awake wondering if the U.S. President will visit London before Paris or Berlin, we end up wasting our own time and theirs. There are some areas where America’s interests and ours combine but others where they do not. We must get our judgements to a practical rather than emotional level. I speak with a foot in each camp. My grandparents and mother were naturalised Americans and two of my children are U.S. citizens by birth.
Americans have a natural courtesy and good manners and do not like to offend. With this in mind they should restrict this diplomatic traffic to those who really need to know; that cannot be between two and three million people down to the rank of corporal. Hilary Clinton has been tireless in her efforts to smooth offended egos, but there really is no more need. She can go back to her day job. With her head held high. Those cables need to carry on flowing.They are really very good.
Saved, I enjoy your blog! 🙂