Comment du Jour

28 April


Magyar Mirth

An electoral Tsunami swamped Hungary's ruling Socialist Party in recent elections, returning the Conservatives to power. The Socialists who mis-ruled Hungary over the past eight years were mired in corruption, cronyism and jolted by the effects of the global economic recession.

When polls closed, the conservative Fidesz Party gained 68 percent of the popular vote and a thumping 263 seats out of 386 seats in the Budapest parliament. The Socialists (many of them ex-communists) came in second with 15 percent and 59 seats. The far-right Jobbik party had 12 percent while the Greens got 4 percent.

Fidesz promised to revive the once thriving economy and create jobs and lower taxes. It is about time. Massive government spending and a crippling DEBT may prove an albatross to reform.

Viktor Orban is set to become prime minister; the former soccer star was PM in the 1990's after Hungary's gained full sovereignty following the fall of communism.

Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO.

23 April

Is NASA Losing the 'The Right Stuff'?

UNITED NATIONS — Renowned members of the American astronaut program, the U.S. Congress, and scientific community have warned that planned cuts and changes by the Obama Administration to the American space program “destines our nation to become one of second or even third rate stature.” In a scathing letter signed by 27 NASA veterans including Neil Armstrong, commander of Apollo 11, James Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, Eugene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, and Gene Kranz, legendary flight director, implored President Barack Obama to reconsider his “misguided proposal,” concerning the future of manned space flight.


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is under political assault. NASA, which traces its roots to the Eisenhower Administration’s scientific “wake up call” from the Soviet Sputnik launch, and was later supercharged by President John F. Kennedy’s call for putting an American on the Moon “within the decade,” used to be the PR savvy, slick and “can do” agency which put cutting-edge science on the par with prestige and made American achievement almost a given.

Today after many setbacks and a minuscule 0.5 percent share of the burgeoning federal budget, NASA faces a future away from manned space flight to far more mundane programs.

As with so many other things, NASA now faces a new Obama “vision of change.”

I vividly recall the Lunar Landing on 20 July 1969. I viewed the Moon landing on a flickering Black and white TV on a cool Vermont evening. Years earlier, I remember that the first American in space (before John Glenn) was actually New Hampshire native Alan Shepard. Yet, I’m not one of that dwindling band who follows shuttle launches and landings with the rapt attention as Americas did in the 1960’s during projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.

But even during the heyday of NASA’s golden years, people incessantly yammered, “We are sending millions to the moon, why not use this for projects on Earth”? Good question. Now look at your computer screen where you may be viewing this article, do you have a mobile/cell phone or the internet? So much of this technology emerged as a result of the space program which miniaturized circuits and communications and subsequently made it affordable and available to the masses.

For example, even a decade ago the average car carried more on-board computer technology than the Apollo 11 spacecraft.

What the NASA cuts are about is not eliminating the space agency, nor even seriously cutting its $19 billion budget, but rather narrowing its vision and especially its horizons. The space program was always about horizons — not just going to the Moon and beyond, but about pushing both the geographic and philosophical horizon and political standing of the USA as a global player. This is what’s being trimmed and what’s being mortgaged.

Indeed the U.S space program has been a near singular player in manned space flight — really only the Russians have perfected this on a similar scale, and People’s China has relatively recently launched a number of successful flights. But let’s not forget that even the high tech European Space Agency (ESA), while successfully launching satellites, has never carried out a manned launch. Nor has Japan.

The cancellation of the Space Shuttle program, after three more missions, will cost 9,000 jobs. Ending the revamped Moon program may cost a further 20,000 engineering and scientific positions. Still Obama told a skeptical audience at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, “I am 100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future.” Really?

With the cancellation of the Space Shuttle program and scrapping the future Moon missions, is Obama now planning to outsource elements of manned space flight to the Russians? Shall astronauts go to the International Space Station via the Soyuz program? Are we losing our scientific and national security edge?

The famous movie “The Right Stuff” chronicled the early stages of the 1960’s space race with the Soviets, the gripping “Apollo 13” presented the saga of saving the near- disastrous 1970 mission. Both films projected the political and scientific vision which clearly characterized the space program a generation ago.

But today America is becoming less the land of scientific vision and more the land of earthly entitlements; less the land of pride and promise, and more the place of pedestrian programs.

The U.S. Capitol building stands majestically at the head of the Washington Mall, to its one side sits the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, an amazing assembly of flight from the Wright Brothers to the unique brotherhood of the Space Program. It’s a place which still celebrates “The Right Stuff.” Shall the “new” NASA be able to achieve the same?

Comment du Jour

21 April


Keep 'Em Flying!!

After nearly a week of shutdowns due to the Icelandic volcano ash European airspace is open!!

Transatlantic flights have resumed too though there's bound to be serious disruptions.

Unprecedented cancellations have cost the British economy alone over $2 billion.

Nonetheless given the dangers posed to aircraft by the ash plume, SAFETY was the paramount consideration. Ash intake can be lethal to jet engines.

Raymond Benjamin, the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a Montreal-based UN body told correspondents, that the airspace closings over Europe were dictated by the "Principal of Precaution." The airspace is now open "Only because it is safe."

Another ICAO official stressed, "Safety is our main business."

Comment du Jour

19 April


Trans-Atlantic Gap???


In the wake of the Iraq war in 2003, there were countless predictions of a
widening Trans-Atlantic Gap.

The USA and some European states appeared at political loggerheads.

Now there's an unparallelled air travel crisis.

Along comes a forgotten volcano in Iceland, and we have a REAL Trans-Atlantic Gap--perhaps a Gulch. We can't fly to Europe and Europeans can't fly here to the USA. The belching volcanic smoke, the plumes of ash, and the threat to airliners have for all practical purposes cut Europe off from America.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled. Commerce has been put on hold. Air Trasportation frozen. Millions of people have been affected. Even the Al Qaida terrorists were thankfully never able to totally shut down airspace for so long and so totally as Mother Nature.

The Pond has re-emerged as the Atlantic Ocean.

Comment du Jour
11 April

Another Tragedy for Poland

Pity poor Poland. Commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the infamous
Katyn Forest massacre, were shattered by a terrible aircraft accident which killed the Polish President Lech Kaczynski and scores of leading government officials. The air crash at Smolensk Russia, was laden both with obvious tragedy and deep and ironic symbolism. The ill-fated aircraft was an aged Soviet built TU-154.

In 1940 Soviet secret police executed 22,000 captured Polish military officers and intellectuals. The crime was long denied by Moscow but in recent years was grudgingly admitted. Only recently did this openess lead to a thaw in Polish/ Russian relations. The commemoration was slated to be at the massacre site.

"This is unbelievable — this tragic, cursed Katyn," Kaczynski's predecessor, Aleksander Kwasniewski, said on TVN24 television.

It is "a cursed place, horrible symbolism," he said. "It's hard to believe. You get chills down your spine."


Russian Premier Vladimir Putin shall lead the crash investigation. Ironic too.

April 5, 2010

Save the SS United States!

The United States is in danger of being scrapped! I’m not referring to contentious political debates plaguing America, but the hard, cold economic fact that the famed ocean liner, the SS United States, faces imminent danger of soon going to the scrap yard. It’s now incumbent for Americans and foreign friends alike to unite in a bipartisan effort to save this steamship from the fate which has befallen many of her ocean-going contemporaries.


For those who don’t remember , the SS United States was the proud flagship of American passenger ocean travel in the post-war era. After entering service in 1952, the luxury liner began a career which saw 700 successful Atlantic crossings until 1969. Using the highest maritime technology, still a marvel today, the SS United States crossed the Atlantic a full half-day faster than its most serious competition the Cunard Queen Mary. On her Maiden voyage in 1952 she won the coveted Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, a record which still holds today!

The SS United States was hardly a precursor to modern cruise ships, those top-heavy “love boats” which ply the Caribbean, but a proud and stately Grande Dame of the high seas who moved with grace, manner and speed along with European liners such as the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and the France. She sailed between New York, Le Harve, France and Southampton in Britain.

Since 1996, the United States has been at moored in south Philadelphia. The once opulent ocean liner who carried American Presidents, European royalty, Hollywood movie stars and thousands of ordinary travelers including this writer in the early 1960’s, now rests astride an IKEA parking lot rusting in the rain and sitting as a silent but painful testament to changing times and modes of travel.


“We are trying to get a stay of execution.” Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of the acclaimed American naval architect William Francis Gibbs told me at a recent function sponsored by SS United States Conservancy. The current owner Norwegian Cruise Lines who spends about $750,000 annually to keep the ship in dock, is seeking tenders for scrap. The vultures are gathering. And let’s not forget, the majestic ocean liner France which entered service in 1962. Years later the ship was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines, sailed as the SS Norway, was eventually decommissioned, only to meet its fate in an Indian scrap yard.
Amazingly people are responding to the SOS for the SS United States. A recent New York gathering of conservationists, enthusiasts, and maritime historians brought together an overflow crowd. The message was starkly simple, this American icon of the seas must be saved. A poignant documentary film by Mark Perry, “SS United States; Lady in Waiting” underscores the reasons why; history, elegance and of course national pride.

The era of ocean liners now known as cruise ships is not quite over In April 2004, I recall seeing the new Cunard Queen Mary II alongside the Queen Elizabeth II majestically steaming out of New York harbor towards the narrows and the open sea.The booming fog horns, the fireboat whistles and the clanging bells recalled the nostalgic ocean liner age with its thriving passenger traffic and busy ocean terminals.

But back to reality. In the short run, the plans are simply to stop the clock on the ship being sent to the scrap yard. The Conservancy in the meantime must raise at least $1.5 million to purchase the storied steamship. Though the vessel has been stripped of asbestos in Ukraine some years ago, there would have to be a massive retrofitting to convert the United States into a convention center/hotel either in Philadelphia or better on New York’s West side near the old ocean terminals from where she once sailed. As an example, the former Queen Mary, retired in 1967, today is berthed in Long Beach California serving as a hotel and tourist attraction.

Until there’s a clear reprieve from the wreckers, the still proud flagship of United States Lines remains in limbo alongside a south Philadelphia wharf. So let’s sound the SOS for the SS United States, all hands on deck to save an American ocean legend.

Comment du Jour

7 April


Sea Trials

The Transatlantic Echo presents a new way of looking at the American/European relationship. Rather than relating only the "bad news" which often clouds relations, we equally plan to post positive stories relating to Europe. We plan to speak to each other, not at each other!

Thus the blog is making its "sea trials" to get the feel of the task ahead. A few Euro-related columns are posted in no particular order and there will be updates on key issues affecting Americans and Europeans.

We confidently set sail for what will hopefully be a Journey of new discovery.









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Comment du Jour
4 April

Happy Easter!!


Happy Spring!!

August 14, 2009

The French Adore American movies

PARIS — There’s an Ice Age in Paris — at least at the cinema. Harry Potter is weaving his spells, the Metro 123 is under attack, and a Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood at the wheel cruises the boulevards. American movies continue to captivate French audiences, despite the droning complaints by the intelligencia over the alleged dangers of cultural “Americanization.”

Top box office hits over the past few weeks include Harry Potter, Ice Age 3, Attack on Metro 123 (Pelham 123), and Public Enemies among others. In fact, of the top ten films now showing in France as reported by the national daily Le Figaro, eight are American and only one is French. And that’s despite a still very creative and heavily state - subsidized French film industry.

Hollywood’s hold on the box office is nothing new either. Over the past year, among the ten top box office hits were American including Madagascar 3, Quantum of Solace, and Gran Torino. Not surprisingly Clint Eastwood is very popular with French audiences.

And Disney-Pixar animations such as Up, remain equally enchanting.

The National Centre for Cinematography (CNC) reports that for the month of July, movie houses had their biggest box office sales since 1980. The reasons according to Le Figaro is that the “major Anglo-Saxon studios brought out their heavy artillery” with Ice Age, Up, and Harry Potter coming to the silver screen. The other reason for an astounding 20 million box office receipts, is the recession. Despite vacations, far fewer French are traveling this summer, nor are they frequenting restaurants so much, but they are going to the cinema.

Quite interestingly and not very well-known is that for every movie ticket sold in France, including for foreign films, the CNC receives a percentage which then goes into a fund to subsidize French film production.

It’s not just not the cinema but music on the radio, is heavily American as are the top TV programs. Shows like Desperate Housewives, House, and a myriad of police programs like NCIS and Miami Vice hold sway over prime time on the major channels.

Actually none of this is terribly surprising given that the “American brand” has an amazing appeal overseas; what does pose a dilemma is that the French who possess a very virile culture and needless to say arts scene, are themselves unable to slow this tsunami of American popular culture.

Not that they haven’t tried. At least some of the intellectuals who as self-anointed cultural guardians who defend a “certain form of civilization,” are quick to offer condescension towards “Anglo-Saxon” culture in everything ranging from business to entertainment.

Yet, there are so many contradictions. In a country of truly fabulous food and equally amazing vegetables and food products, there’s at the same time the surprising appeal of fast-food at MacDonald’s. “MacDo” as it’s called, posts some of its largest European sales in France. The Starbucks coffee houses are growing in popularity too.

Wines however remain one area where fortress France holds firm; visit the largest wine shops or supermarkets and see the extraordinary spectrum of French viniculture. Foreign wines? Surely you jest Monsieur? The very fact that so few California, Australian or Chilean wines are for sale illustrate the suffocating effectiveness of protectionism.

Yet the “American-way” is still popular. It’s not at all unusual seeing a baker wearing an FDNY tee shirt and New York Yankees baseball hats are common with many young people who are probably otherwise die-hard soccer fans. It’s the fact that the team and the symbolism is American.

Many observers may conclude, that since the political rift with Washington resulting from the Iraq war in 2003 is past, America is popular in France again. While this is true, the popularity of American cinema is nothing novel and in fact has been a feature of French life at least since WWII. Happily French President Nicolas Sarkozy had already mended political fences with the Bush Administration in 2007.

The Franco/American friendship is pretty much back to normal; both sides are free to disagree, except over the movies

November 6, 2009

Germany's Angela Merkel at joint session of Congress thanks the USA for freedom

UNITED NATIONS — In a stirring and heartfelt tribute to the United States and its people, German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress in Washington DC and outlined the post-war relationship between the United States and a politically free, and now united, Germany. Speaking to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989, Chancellor Merkel underscored the close political partnership between Germany and the USA.

Angela Merkel, who herself grew up in former communist East Germany and was a Professor of Physics, offered unequivocal praise for the role American administrations played in the long fight to bring democracy and freedom not only to divided Germany but to Eastern Europe as a whole.

Citing the historic iconography of the Cold War era, Merkel praised the pivotal role played by the allied Berlin Airlift in 1948-49, the long-term American security and the political commitments made; “I think of John F. Kennedy who won the hearts of despairing Berliners during his 1961 visit after the construction of the Berlin Wall when he called out to them “Ich bin ein Berliner….Ronald Reagan, far earlier than others saw and recognized the sign of the times when, standing before the Brandenburg Gate in 1987, he demanded, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.’ This appeal is something that will never be forgotten.”

She equally thanked George Herbert Walker Bush “for placing his trust in Germany” during the countdown to unification. “To sum it up in one sentence,” Merkel stated, “We Germans know, how much we owe you, our American friends. We as a nation, and I personally, will never forget that.” Several standing ovations greeted Merkel’s remarks.

Angela Merkel, whose conservative coalition was recently reelected in national elections, was only the second German Chancellor to address the U.S. Congress, the first was the legendary Konrad Adenauer in 1957 who spoke during the darkest hours of the Cold War. Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the free market-oriented Free Democrats (FDP) form the new government in Berlin.

Addressing Transatlantic relations, Merkel admitted that while America and Europe have had their share of disagreements, “I am deeply convinced that there is no better partner for Europe than America and no better partner for America than Europe.”

She stressed that what united Europe and America is not simply shared history or shared interests, “but a common basis of shared values. It is a common idea of the individual and his inviolable dignity. It is a common understanding of freedom in responsibility.” Merkel added, “This basis of values was what ended the Cold War.” Less than a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the East German regime disintegrated and formal German unity followed in October 1990.

On contemporary political challenges, Chancellor Merkel expressed “zero tolerance” for the Iranian nuclear weapons program, and stated clearly “Israel’s security will never be open to negotiation.” Merkel reaffirmed her government’s commitment to Afghanistan; Germany is the third largest troop contributor, but added that there must be a “transfer strategy” on which the Afghans shoulder wider security responsibilities for themselves.

Merkel’s moving tribute returned to the symbolism and the Freedom Bell in the Berlin Town Hall, donated by Americans in 1950. “The Freedom Bell in Berlin, like the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, a symbol which reminds us that freedom does not come about of itself. It must be struggled for and then defended anew every day of out lives.” She concluded memorably, “in this endeavor Germany and Europe will also in the future remain strong and dependable partners for America. That I can promise you.”

Having visited Berlin on many occasions, both during the Wall and after its collapse, there is still an undeniable surrealistic feeling one has in seeing a prosperous and dynamic united city, yet somehow shadowed by the ghosts of the past, be they the National Socialist regime, the East German communists or the clarion call to freedom by President Ronald Reagan whose words still echo through this city which so symbolized the East/ West divide.

The heady memories of that seminal year 1989 remain; the epiphany of these extraordinary events where freedom vanquished tyranny, where the multitudes of people separated by the barbaric gash of the wall through their city became one overnight, and where JFK’s exhortation “Ich bin ein Berliner,” is etched in stone for those who love freedom. On that day the 9th November 1989, when the Joshua Trumpet sounded and the wall came tumbling down, we were all Berliners.

February 12, 2010--Greek Crisis: A Cautionary Tale for the US

UNITED NATIONS — Evoking an ominous tale of mythology, the current financial crisis in Greece threatens to undermine the European currency, the Euro, and more especially rattle global markets and nerves. The lessons of the Greek socialist government’s profligate spending, fiscal irresponsibility, and sloppy oversight has turned a crisis in a small European country into a wider challenge affecting all Euroland. Tellingly it provides a cautionary tale for the United States itself. The hydra-headed monster of massive government spending creating debt, deficit and depression threatens Greece. Government debt as a percent of GDP stands at a whopping 125 percent. But Greece, alas, is a small country of eleven million people but its influence in the global market, as its influence in Western philosophy, weighs out of all proportion.
The original crisis was triggered by the government conceding its budget deficit would be double its previous estimate which in turn triggered fears over $35 billion in Greek bonds. Curiously the Athens government approached the state bankers in Beijing to fund their deficit. For People’s China with its huge foreign reserves sloshing around, the Greek deal would be pocket money. Politically though this would allow Mainland China wider influence inside the European Union itself.
Should this deal transpire there’s the double irony that the home of democracy has to approach the world’s largest dictatorship for a loan.
Now the European Union has cobbled together a financial rescue plan for Greece. Realistically, the French and German taxpayers will pay for this bailout, and pull the Greeks back from the brink at least on the ledger sheets. What less certain is that the country’s radical public sector unions or political parties will settle for austerity and higher taxes even from George Papandreou’s ruling Socialists.
Yet, profligate spending is not only the curse of Greek politicians; in Italy debt to GDP is 117 percent, Belgium 101 percent and the United Kingdom 80 percent. The European Union average stands at 79 percent. But before Americans get too smug, for 2010 the United States debt projections ring in with 93 percent of Gross Domestic Product, and still rising.
While government deficits in the European Union average out at a dangerous 7.5 percent; as percent of GDP, in the United States ballooning public sector deficit for 2010 comes in at 13 percent! The new White House budget of $1.6 trillion represents the highest debt ratio since WWII.
Now look at the massive spending in the USA, cross reference Europe’s bad financial grades, and then realize the deep and enduring danger from the Obama Administration’s massive government spending. And let’s not forget that American debt and bonds are being bought up by Beijing so that the People’s Republic of China has become the USA’s chief creditor. And this is ok?
Among the major European debtor states Greece, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and United Kingdom, discover the common thread socialist or Labor party governments. The United States is governed by a basically social democratic administration. Now view the more prosperous members of the European Union hand one has only to see France, Germany, the Netherlands and which have elected conservative (small c) governments. Here while the debt ratio and spending is quite high, so too is economic growth.
As with the albatross of legend, the crisis serves as a political millstone to the Euro currency and a warning to many of the European politicians, bankers and economists. Both in Europe and the USA it is glaringly apparent, if not admitted, that such spending is unsustainable and threatens to debase the currency, the confidence, and the very well being of future generations.
And like the Greek chorus one must repeat that unrestricted government spending comes with the price of debt, delusion and eventual disaster. This is not mythology but the lessons of what politicians have wrought

March 15, 2010-- Obama faces uphill battle at UN over Iran sanctions

UNITED NATIONS — The Obama Administration’s ongoing efforts to get yet another Iran sanctions package through the UN Security Council faces an uphill battle. While key countries such as Britain, France and possibly now Russia are supporting U.S. calls for a stronger economic embargo on the Islamic Republic for its nuclear proliferation activities, the People’s Republic of China still stands firm with Teheran thus guaranteeing that its veto may make the draft resolution stillborn.
China’s cozy commercial links with Iran remain a significant part of the equation. Right now PRC trade with Iran stands at $37 billion, or more than Teheran’s trade with the European Union. And don’t forget that Beijing often wishes to trim, if not thwart, American efforts on the international stage. This has less to do with the obvious PRC anger over Washington’s support for a democratic Taiwan or for Tibetan human rights, but the cold geopolitical calculation that China has the political and economic power and is now in the position to use it for its national interests.
But beyond Beijing’s presumed blocking of sanctions on Iran, other important countries are not signing on to the Western-led effort to punish the Atomic Ayatollahs either.
Both Brazil and Turkey, two non-permanent members of the Council have weighed in against the wider embargo. Given that both countries are political heavyweights, regional powers, but also close American allies, there’s cause for genuine concern.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Brazil recently to press the populist President Lula da Silva to support sanctions on Iran. Lula was hearing none of it. “It’s not prudent to put Iran against a wall.” Lula said adding that he shall have “frank” discussions with Iran during a planned visit to Tehran in May. Brazil adds that Iran has a right to a peaceful nuclear program.
Later Foreign Minister Celso Amorim stated strongly that Brazil “will not simply bow down to an evolving consensus if we do not agree. We have to think by ourselves with our values and principles.” He added “Usually, sanctions are counterproductive.”
Brazil which sees itself as a an emerging regional power aspiring to a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, again wishes to strut its political standing. In November Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad visited Brazil to cement deeper commercial ties in the South American nation. While two- way trade is just over a billion dollars, mostly in the petroleum sector, there are growing links between dictatorial Iran and democratic Brazil thus offering Tehran political support form a mainstream player.
Besides Brazil wishing to play on a global stage in the sanctions debate, there’s yet another nagging issue between the Brasilia and Washington. A complicated trade dispute with Washington involving cotton subsidies has soured bilateral ties with the USA.
Brazil may soon slap tariffs and on American products, causing bad political blood between both hemispheric giants. This is one more reason why Lula is not willing to back Barack Obama’s initiative.
Turkey another regional player on the crossroads of the Europe and the Middle East is not on board either. Though a longstanding NATO member and close American ally, Turkey’s current Islamic-lite government is a far less supportive friend. This is not the traditional secular Turkish governments which were predictably close in the post-war era. The current government in Ankara has a fundamentally different political instinct and social dynamic and thus is not likely to back a Security Council resolution.
Turkey borders Iran, has a significant trade with its neighbor, and furthermore has tried to move closer to a political understanding with Tehran. Ankara’s government has many disputes with the USA, most recently with a U.S. congressional committee vote condemning the Ottoman-era Turkish rulers for the Armenian genocide during WWI. While both the White House and State Department are trying to keep the Armenian resolution from a full Congressional floor vote, the Turks are livid that the matter has even gone this far. Turkish nationalism runs deep across the political spectrum, and the perception, no matter how misguided it may be, that the United States is criticizing and blaming the country for events which predate the current Turkish Republic, are causing a bitter backlash to the USA. Turkey’s Foreign Minister went so far as to say that the U.S. shows “a lack of strategic vision.”
Any chances of Turkey backing the U.S. in a Security Council vote have now dropped dramatically. Though it takes nine votes and no vetoes from any permanent members to get a resolution through the fifteen member Council, there’s also the possibility that Lebanon would vote no or abstain. Barring Beijing’s likely veto, the draft resolution would still pass but with far less international consensus.
Passing a tough and robust resolution to restrain Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, it is not likely given political constraints in the Council. Despite the dubious presumption that the Obama Administration is universally admired, Washington faces an uphill battle for this key diplomatic goal.

March 1, 2010--Another Falklands Showdown, Only This Time Thatcher and Reagan Aren't Around

UNITED NATIONS — It’s diplomatic déjà vu all over again. The long forgotten Falkland Islands, deep in the South Atlantic, have again regained the spotlight as Argentina presses its political case at the United Nations reviving its perennial political dispute with Britain. Argentina’s Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana met with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to press for UN political involvement in the case. The Minister later told correspondents that the islands, which it calls Las Malvinas, are an integral part of Argentine territory. Tensions rose recently when British companies started drilling for oil in the nearby waters.
Claiming sovereignty, Argentina’s military government invaded the Falklands in 1982 prompting a powerful military response by Britain. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, showing both leadership and iron resolve to safeguard the tiny British territory, boldly launched a naval task force which sailed 8,000 miles into the South Atlantic to recapture the islands from the Argentine occupiers. At the time I recall writing a column, “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Now a quarter century later, the Falkland/Malvinas issue is again ricocheting round the halls of the UN. The left-wing Argentine government is mired in a deep economic crisis. President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, playing on the traditional Peronist populism and buffo nationalism, has decided to turn up the political heat on a long simmering Anglo/ Argentine dispute. Senora Kirchner, whose government was pounded by the opposition in legislative elections last year, needs a nationalist rallying point. The Falklands/ Malvinas provide such an issue.
Though 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, the Falklands are home to only 3,000 people who overwhelmingly wish to remain British. The windswept islands are best known for their sheep and penguins. At issue is oil, and specifically that United Kingdom firms have sent rigs to start exploring for petroleum. This makes the Malvinas far more interesting to an Argentine government in fiscal and economic shambles. A bountiful and beautiful country, Argentina sadly has often had to endure the bane of bad government.
Minister Taiana stressed that Argentina was determined to exert sovereignty over the islands “because they are part of the Argentine territory” even if a majority of inhabitants there wanted to remain British.
In cases like this I always advise, “look at the other guy’s map.” In other words, Argentine maps, both official and even tourist, show the islands as Las Malvinas, and the Buenos Aires government treats the region as its sovereign territory much as Mainland Chinese maps show Taiwan as a part of the People’s Republic of China. Gibraltar also comes to mind.
In a recent meeting of Latin American and Caribbean states, all thirty-two members passed a resolution supporting the Argentine claim to the Falklands and calling on Britain not to drill for oil in the nearby waters. Though Venezuela’s left-wing dictator Hugo Chavez vocally backed the Argentine claim as did Brazil’s Lula, surprisingly so too did English speaking commonwealth countries such as Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad. Moreover the countries meeting in Mexico decided to form a hemispheric bloc without the participation of the United States or Canada, a clear sign of Washington’s slipping regional standing.
The conference “reaffirmed their backing for the Argentine Republic’s legitimate rights in its sovereignty dispute with the United Kingdom” over the islands. Importantly the meeting stressed dialogue and negotiation over the Falkland’s future, adding the two countries should resume talks “in order to find a just, peaceful and definitive solution” to the dispute.
Nobody except hard-line crazies in Caracas or Havana would wish to see a military showdown. The Obama Administration has stressed neutrality in the dispute between both countries; in 1982 during the Falkland War, Ronald Reagan backed Britain to the ire of many in Latin America.
The respected English-language Buenos Aires Herald reported, “Likewise, the U.S., whose intelligence services proved critical to British military success during the short but bloody 1982 war over the Islands possession, offered Britain only tepid support. The State Department has said that it took no position on the sovereignty claims of either country.”
Though the Falkland/Malvinas case has seen quickly-forgotten resolutions in the UN General Assembly, it’s highly unlikely the issue will come before the Security Council as the United Kingdom’s deft diplomacy would likely block it or if it ever got so far, has a veto and would unabashedly use it. While Argentina has renounced the use of force in the current crisis, there’s the danger that Hugo Chavez’s political alchemy could manipulate Christina Fernandez into an incremental confrontation with Britain.

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John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for WorldTribune.com.