It’s hard to
find anything to laugh at as the tragedy in Ukraine continues to unfold, but
the UK Foreign Secretary and former Governor General of Wales, William Hague,
managed an absolute classic yesterday.
He gravely
announced to the world “We have to
recognise the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine has been
violated and this cannot be the way to conduct international affairs”. No flicker nor hint of any suggestion that
this might be, at the very least, a trifle ironic coming from the government of
a country with centuries of experience of violating other people’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity.
Threatening one
of the world’s most heavily armed countries with dire consequences for daring
to “do as I do rather than as I say” is not only disingenuous, it’s potentially
downright dangerous. If history teaches
us anything it is that people uttering bellicose words often find themselves
following it up with bellicose action.
The odd thing
is that, in essence, he’s right – “this
cannot be the way to conduct international affairs”. If only he was serious…
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6 comments:
Ha, and this coming from a guy who belongs to a party that can't even agree upon its policy for nuclear power.
Laughable indeed!
Do try and keep up! I'm not a member of any party, and haven't been for three years...
Neither Hague nor the government are responsible for "centuries... of violating other people's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Governments are entitled to change tack, either in respect of the actions of previous governments or indeed their own actions.
This is the sort of attitude that ends up with Tony Blair apologising for the Irish potato famine.
As for Anon's pop at Plaid's nuclear policy, different people in the party have different opinions - it's allowed.
David,
In principle, I agree with you on "Neither Hague nor the government are responsible for "centuries... of violating other people's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Governments are entitled to change tack, either in respect of the actions of previous governments or indeed their own actions.".
But firstly, what I said actually was that Hague is a member of "the government of a country with centuries of experience...", and secondly, the current government has shown itself more than willing to follow that long-standing tradition. It hasn't shown any inclination to, as you put it, "change tack".
This isn't the place for a discussion on nuclear energy, but there is a general point here that holding different views on any issue may well be something that a party chooses to allow; but it shouldn't then try and tell the electorate that it has a clear and consistent policy on the same issue.
John
Have the similarities between the position of England and its current relationship with Scotland and Wales with events in Russia and the Ukraine inc Crimea been missed.
Can we expect Alex Salmond to be assasinated on the eve of the poll on the basis that the naval base at Faslane must remain in Englands control as it is the only one from which they can use nuclear submarine capability
Is there a contingency plan to formally occupy Scotland and Wales
by overt military methods in the event of a Yes vote
We now live in the world of the drones.
Nothing and nowhere on the globe s surface can escape surveillance and attack
What concerns me is the insanity being displayed by some prominent politicians in the United States that are being repeated by politicians in the UK. I wish I could laugh at it but I can't.
With North Korea and Iran rattling their sabers, with the economy stretched beyond it's limits supporting military adventures, we now have the insanity of talk about going to war with a powerful nation that has not been successfully invaded since the Mongols of the 13th Century.
I believe it was McGovern who said that he was sick and tired of old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
I can't laugh.
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