Munich Security Conference (MSC)
The MSC used to be a rather predictable, and thus sleepy affair, where democratic countries (the EU, the US) spoke up against the dangers of aggressive dictatorships, initially the Soviet Union, then Russia. But it has morphed in the last 2 years. This year it was the dictatorships and would-be dictatorships (Russia, the US) against the Democrats (the EU), with China trying to play a smart middle game, hoping the other 2 groups would eventually weaken each other.
Thus it was very welcome when for the first time, Merkel delivered a lengthy, point by point takedown of the Trump administration, earning a long, standing ovation. Its time more EU leaders speak up as forcefully. 2 years of trying to placate the Dotard have only made things worse. Its time to fight.
Altar boy and (insert body part) kisser Pence then tried to fault the Europeans for helping Iran and not supporting the US, and got a cold reaction from the diplomatspresent, and boos from everyone else. With Pence and Pompous Pompeo having come to Munich from Warsaw and Budapest, 2 other budding dictatorships, its time to stop pretending that the Trump US is interested in Democracy. And the hypocrisy of criticizing human rights in Iran while kissing the (insert body part) of Putin and the Saudis obviously did not occur to Pence/Pompeo.
Certainly there is a risk in fighting back, but there are risks in appeasement too, as historians of WW2 continuously point out. If the US wants to destroy the world economy, so be it. The US has the world’s biggest economy, but the EU together is just as big, and voices are getting louder here that any further US tariffs (like the threatened 25% on cars) should be responded to in kind. The tariffs will have a big impact in the EU, so why not take down the US as well, even if that makes the impact for the EU even bigger. Just like with military war, at some point appeasement needs to stop even in a trade war.
The EU of course needs to hope that at worst they have to deal with this for a maximum of 2 years more. Of course, if the US can elect a con man and ignoramus a second time, all sides will have to endure 4 more years of pain, which will also delay uplifting millions out of poverty in the rest of the world for a decade or more.
Then we we will really need the Munich Security Conference
Thus it was very welcome when for the first time, Merkel delivered a lengthy, point by point takedown of the Trump administration, earning a long, standing ovation. Its time more EU leaders speak up as forcefully. 2 years of trying to placate the Dotard have only made things worse. Its time to fight.
Altar boy and (insert body part) kisser Pence then tried to fault the Europeans for helping Iran and not supporting the US, and got a cold reaction from the diplomatspresent, and boos from everyone else. With Pence and Pompous Pompeo having come to Munich from Warsaw and Budapest, 2 other budding dictatorships, its time to stop pretending that the Trump US is interested in Democracy. And the hypocrisy of criticizing human rights in Iran while kissing the (insert body part) of Putin and the Saudis obviously did not occur to Pence/Pompeo.
Certainly there is a risk in fighting back, but there are risks in appeasement too, as historians of WW2 continuously point out. If the US wants to destroy the world economy, so be it. The US has the world’s biggest economy, but the EU together is just as big, and voices are getting louder here that any further US tariffs (like the threatened 25% on cars) should be responded to in kind. The tariffs will have a big impact in the EU, so why not take down the US as well, even if that makes the impact for the EU even bigger. Just like with military war, at some point appeasement needs to stop even in a trade war.
The EU of course needs to hope that at worst they have to deal with this for a maximum of 2 years more. Of course, if the US can elect a con man and ignoramus a second time, all sides will have to endure 4 more years of pain, which will also delay uplifting millions out of poverty in the rest of the world for a decade or more.
Then we we will really need the Munich Security Conference
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