BBC: Brit Leader Sends ‘Coded Message’ About Bush’s Foreign Policy
Terry Trippany on Jul 13 2007 at 12:46 pm | Filed under: Feature Article, Linkfest, UK News
UK International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander made a foreign policy speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington DC where he lectured the United States about the need to form “new alliances, based on common values”.
The BBC is characterizing the speech as a “coded message” to President Bush, so you won’t be surprised to learn that the message contains calls for the United States and the UK to work together on climate change, globalization, international law, humanitarian aid and the empowerment of women.
“In the 20th Century a country’s might was too often measured in what they could destroy. In the 21st Century strength should be measured by what we can build together,” he said.
“And so we must form new alliances, based on common values, ones not just to protect us from the world, but ones which reach out to the world.
“There is no security or prosperity at home unless we deal with the global challenges of security, globalisation, climate change, disease and poverty.
“We must recognise these challenges and champion an internationalist approach – seeking shared solutions to the problems we face.
“Multilateralist, not unilateralist means a rules-based international system. Just as we need the rule of law at home to have civilisation so we need rules abroad to ensure global civilisation.”
Douglas Alexander, who is one of new Prime Minister Gordan Brown’s closest allies also championed the empowerment of women, specifically naming the United States in the list of countries that needs persuading.
Mr Alexander, who is seen as one of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s closest allies, also said “empowering women must be a priority for us all”.
He said: “The economic, social and political position of women in many countries is actively preventing us from reducing child and maternal mortality, and stopping the spread of HIV/Aids.”
Mr Alexander said winning support for this approach “is not easy” and work must be done to make them “the accepted norm”.
He said: “This means persuading political leaders, indeed community leaders, faith leaders and civic leaders to actively support these principles – whether they are in Europe or the US, China, India or South Africa.”
I’m not quite sure about your feelings on this topic but I for one am sick of pompous asses from the UK lecturing the United States about these topics. Perhaps Mr. Alexander was doing bongs during Live Earth or just happened to miss the parade of scientists that are pointing out the stupidity behind much of the junk science used by Al Gore and crew when it comes to climate change. But I’m not buying into the garbage being spewed by the climate change hysterical complex.
In case Mr. Alexander wasn’t paying attention I would like to point out that foreign aid contributions by the United States dwarfs that of other countries, outspending the UK by almost double. But twits like Alexander downplay these contributions by stating them in terms of of GPI (such as here: src. Global Issues.org, ODA in US dollars). But I didn’t need charts to tell me this, its common sense. The United States is at the top when it comes to providing foreign aid on both a monetary and humanitarian basis. We are also the nation that is usually called upon when others need help for just about any aid possible; and we do it willingly despite the lack of respect and thanks by the America bashers overseas (and at home). So please don’t lecture us about the need to tackle disease and poverty as if you are going to distance yourself from us based on your implied superior record.
On the topic of womens rights Alexander is correct. There is an urgent need to stand up for the empowerment of women throughout the world. But guess what the dirty little secret is here? The best way to do that is to stamp out radical Islam!! Yet the UK has made the intellectually dishonest and vapid move to state that terrorism isn’t even a Muslim problem. Tell that to Britains’ Shariah Islamic court and other radical groups that are trying to impose sharia law in Alexander’s own back yard. Imagine the implications for womens rights if the sleeping Brits ignore the problems in their own back yard while lecturing us about ours.
Alexander even called for softening our stance against terrorism by using soft power instead of hard power. Are you kidding me?? Rather than saying we need to understand what motivates terrorists perhaps these people need to go back to terrorism 101 and understand the problem for themselves. They want you and your infidel western culture ass dead. Is that soft enough for you?
For what it’s worth Prime Minister Gordon Brown is spinning the speech to downplay the criticism that the MSM is jumping all over:
Asked if this amounted to criticising the US, Gordon Brown’s spokesman said that view “was not shared” by the PM.
He said Mr Alexander had given “a fairly straightforward speech on development”.
Bookworm gets it: “This inane viewpoint, one that ignores both the realities of Islamic terrorism and the nature of self-defense, is a perfect example of Britain’s continued slide into irrelevance and cultural suicide.”
It’s hard to call for a less isolationist stance when foreign leaders like Development Secretary Douglas Alexander bash the United States every chance they get. Perhaps I’m reading this wrong, after all the BBC is the source. But I doubt it.
================================
Trackposted to Pirate’s Cove, Nuke’s news and views, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Faultline USA, and Woman Honor Thyself, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
UK International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, President Bush, climate change, globalization, international law, humanitarian aid, empowerment of women, Prime Minister Gordan Brown, climate change hysterical complex
The Battle of Kursk…
The largest tank battle in history was the Battle of Kursk, which took place during World War II and concluded on July 13, 1943. 6,000 tanks took part in the fighting (along with 5,000 aircraft and approximately 2,000,000 soldiers).
On July 5, 1943…
Something for everyone to think about : POLITICS…
In both cases, the majority party can be stymied into getting nothing done because of procedure, or a Presidential veto if the majority party does not have the votes to override said veto in both houses.We still in agreement here?…
[...] I wasn’t the only one, of course, to catch Alexander’s icky little message. The Webloggin editor did too, with some righteous anger at British lectures to America when the Brits can’t keep their own [...]
Mendle pays a Visit to Dr Kissinger…
Mendle and his group heard that Dr Henry Kissinger lived nearby in Kent and so decided to pay him a visit. They knew that Kissinger was a secular Jew but thought it was worth a longshot to bring him some chalah. …
Basra barraged by British Badgers…
Does anyone know Vice President Cheney’s whereabouts in 1986?…
See Naples And Die [Weekend Open Trackback]…
Residents of the Campania region, where the streets of many towns have been lined with uncollected trash for weeks, pay some of the highest rubbish taxes in Italy. At 264 euros a year, the average refuse tax in the region surrounding Naples is 60 euros…
Chertoff for Muslims…
Michael Chertoff wants the NAACP to fight for Muslim rights. He made his statements AFTER meeting with religious leaders at the Dearborn mosque. I wonder what the NAACP members have to say about this? While the NAACP has been fighting…
[...] to Perri Nelson’s Website, 123beta, DeMediacratic Nation, Adam’s Blog, Stuck On Stupid, Webloggin, Leaning Straight Up, The Bullwinkle Blog, Cao’s Blog, The Amboy Times, Phastidio.net, , [...]
[...] to Webloggin, Phastidio.net, , Wake Up America, DeMediacratic Nation, Adam’s Blog, Right Truth, Public [...]
[...] MoreWhat, DeMediacratic Nation, 123beta, Jeanette’s Celebrity Corner, Adam’s Blog, Webloggin’, Phastidio, Cao’s Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Pet Haven, , Conservative Cat, Conservative [...]
[...] radio, DeMediacratic Nation, 123beta, Jeanette’s Celebrity Corner, Adam’s Blog, Webloggin’, Phastidio, Cao’s Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Pet Haven, Macbros’ Place, [...]
[...] Webloggin [...]
Who Cares about the Koran…
it seems there are at least five incidents of “mishandling” of the Koran at Gitmo.
Well, guess what? I don’t care!…
U.S. House unable to detect irony!…
Another item to add to the long list of incompetent features of the U.S. House of Representatives, in it’s current form. The “surge” strategy in Iraq has only recently received the full compliment of troops and already has had dramatic ……
Muslim Congressman aka Captain Obvious…
Though this would be unintentional, due to the intentional flight of obvious stupidity lately uttered by Representative Keith Ellison, Democrat – Minnesota……
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!…
Many years ago in a quiet little blues village called Clarksdale in the land of Mississippi, a child was born on this day that Thomas and Cecelia named Carl.
They raised that boy although he gave them ample reason to leave him beside the roadway in th…
Weekend Open Trackback – July 13-15, 2007…
Weekend open trackback! Leave a trackback of your best post for others to read….
NY Times Makes al Qaeda Complicated…
Only in Liberal World
BAGHDAD, July 12 — In rebuffing calls to bring troops home from Iraq, President Bush on Thursday employed a stark and ominous defense. “The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq,” he said, “were the ones who…
The Knucklehead of the Day award…
Today’s winner is ExpressJet….
Ted Rall is OCD…
Not much more to say after that name in the title. The name alone and the pathetic, disgusting twit attached to it need no introduction to those who have seen his editorial cartoons before ……
So Mr. Alexander wants to empower more women. Hmmmmmm! Well I think we need a new list to pick from. As a woman none of you want to hear what I have to say about the pick list we have now. Besides I want to stay in good standing with the Webeditor.
I find it strange how the elite in GB are still sitting around in powdered wigs and pass judgement on the rest of the world. I’m impressed? I would rather ask him why it is necessary to erase all known history from the Crusades to now so not to hurt anyone’s feeling’s. These folks have been doing the snuff thing to long.
I would rather know why the captain of the main ship had to call back to England to see if he could go an save his 18 crew members that were being kidnapped by Iran. With English, American and the rest sitting there watching and then being told to stand down. See I have more problems with this than all of the elitest garbage on all sides. Can you imagine Churchill or Patton or even Rommal calling home to ask if they could take action? Not being in their league I guess my priorities are different from theirs.
Well if he gives a new list someone let me know because I don’t have the time to keep checking his view points or care what else he says.