Politicians' self-importance is always a matter of great amusement; Western politicians's self importance when they pronounce on matters they know nothing about and can do nothing about is even more amusing; but nothing can beat the self-importance of EU politicians pronouncing on many subjects, none of which they understand or could possibly affect. As it happens, there is something a little funnier even than that: the media taking these people seriously.
Let us look at the High Panjandrum of EU foreign policy, the Lady Ashton or, as she prefers to be known nowadays, Cathy Ashton. This morning I received by e-mail the following selection of headlines about the lady's activity:
EU foreign policy chief praises 'calm' presidential vote in Mali. Well gosh, that must have cheered them up in Mali no end. Would they even have heard of the lady or known that neither she nor any one of her colleagues, including the several Presidents, have been elected?
After that, it's a joyous festival of irrelevance:
EU foreign policy chief arrives in Egypt to meet with leaders
EU's Ashton on mediation mission to Egypt, which, to be fair, became Egypt sides defiant as EU envoy seeks compromise. Is she the High Panjandrum, a mere envoy or, as the article describes her, Europe's top diplomat who fruitlessly shuttles between the various factions?
Al-Arabiya said that EU's Ashton headed to Cario for talks while according to Fox News EU's Ashton arrives in Cairo as crisis deepens. Post hoc is not necessarily propter hoc.
Then we have EU's Ashton in Egypt for Second Time in Two Weeks, not a definition of success; EU's Ashton visits Egypt, calls to return to civilian rule and EU's Ashton on mediation mission to Egypt post Cairo violence.
And all the time they know and we know and they know that we know that it makes no earthly difference to anyone or anything what that incompetent and grossly overpaid woman says or does.
Not everyone agrees.
ReplyDeleteCarl Bildt twittering* away as is his wont:
"Cathy Ashton access to Morsi clearly shows value and importance of EU diplomacy."
And then he links to this piece from the Beeb:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23500117#TWEET838844
"EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton says Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi is "well", but that she does not know where he is being held. Baroness Ashton had two hours of "in-depth" discussions with Mr Morsi on Monday..."
It is laughable, isn't it?
*Yes, I know it is "tweeting" in modern parlance, but I think "twittering" better conveys the depth and seriousness of thought passed on via those short messages.
/Mikgen
Oh I think when it comes to Bildt, twittering is the absolutely right expression.
ReplyDeleteThanks, glad you agree.
ReplyDeleteMore to laugh at or not as the case may be:
Poll: Egyptians Opposed to Muslim Brotherhood Protests
"The Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research-Baseera survey found that 71 percent of Egyptians opposed the Brotherhood's protests."
Looks like the EU (and the US, ie Obama) are on the wrong side. But is anyone surprised?
PS: I know, I know. Opinion polls are known to have been used as propaganda tools (even in our enlightened countries), but add the frequent reports that the Muslim Brotherhood demos have been attacked by local inhabitants it certainly appears that the brothers are not so popular these days.
Actually, I have an Egyptian colleague in Sharm el Sheik, and he told a mutual friend who spoke to him a couple of days ago that he was very happy that Morsi had been ousted.
/Mikgen
It's a tricky situation, which is why idiots from the EU and the US (i.e. Obama as Kerry is busy failing with the Palestinians) should keep out of it. Yes, Morsi was elected but just how free and fair were those elections? Also, what they started introducing is not precisely democratic, no matter what people say. The assumption that civilian rule is always better than military is rooted in western history and applies to no other part of the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty rich that this ridiculous Ashton woman presumes to lecture the Egyptians - or anyone else - about the need to observe electoral niceties.
ReplyDeleteWho ever elected her, for anything?
Or any of her "colleagues"?