by Mark Silva
Think of this as the post-Iraq war world.
The world in which the Washington-arriving prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, made his career in opposition to the government of John Howard, who was a solid ally in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with former President George W. Bush.
Rudd will visit the White House on Mar. 24. "Australia is a close ally of the United States,'' the Obama White House notes. "The two leaders will consult on effective measures to respond to the global financial crisis, as well as Afghanistan, climate change, nuclear nonproliferation, and other issues.''
Former Vice President Dick Cheney dropped in on then-PM Howard in Sydney, in a globe-encircling tour that also carried him to Afghanistan, two years ago. Cheney also set aside some time then to meet with Rudd, then the opposition leader. Howard's war, like Bush's war, had lost favor at home. Howard was one of Bush's last visitors in D.C.
As the Obama administration starts withdrawing most American troops from Iraq over the next many months -- too many months, for some critics, and not enough troops, for yet others -- the new president is meeting with the successors of former war allies -- such as Gordon Brown, the British prime minister who succeeded the PM, Tony Blair, who had grown so loyal to Bush and the war in Iraq that the press back home had taken to calling him Bush's "poodle,'' and leaders such as President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, who, like his counterpart in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel, represents a government that never wanted any part of the war in Iraq.
Obama will travel to the summit of the Group of 20 industrial nations in April where the new president will share much in common with the leaders of a post Iraq-war world.
In the meantime, the president who campaigned with a promise to withdraw the U.S. from Iraq will play host to Rudd -- and learn that they speak the same language.
(Video of Randy Newman performing Political Sciece.)
Comments
Bless patriots like Major Kong, who's not afraid to drop the big one as Randy Newman suggests:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHSDa2Jwqc
Posted by: Slim Pickens | February 26, 2009 10:33 PM
The big question is how many extra "surge" troops will Rudd offer in support of Obama's new enlarged Afgahn conflict. I do remember our then candidate Obama and the MSM slobbering over his ability to restore allied cooperation in the "real" war and forego Bush's " go it alone, cowboy" mentality. What was it, the great uniter? Canada punted and there was hardly a squeak from the press.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 27, 2009 6:13 AM
A "stolid" ally? "Impassive, as from dullness or stupidity"? Is "solid" the word you're groping for there, Mark?
Posted by: DaveB | February 27, 2009 9:06 AM
No one likes us-I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one and see what happens
We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us-so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them
Asia's crowded and Europe's too old
Africa is far too hot
And Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one
There'll be no one left to blame us
We'll save Australia
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an All American amusement park there
They got surfin', too
Boom goes London and boom Paris
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it will be
We'll set everybody free
You'll wear a Japanese kimono
And there'll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now
~ Randy Newman, circa 1972
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Democrats, a great old song by Randy Newman. Don't remember what key it is in, but It is SCARCASM with elements of truth, so u may not get it. But the truth part is that They HATE us, They have always hated us and God willing, They, may as well, always will. Has nothing to do with the current cast of actors except that it is Just So PRESCIENT. Dj sez have a nice day.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | February 27, 2009 11:38 AM