Coll, my friend, forgive me if this is a bit of a thread wander, but I offer my observations now in the context of trying to explain Mr Beer’s wonderment and exasperation at US Executive Policy.
Firtly, last time I checked, I’ve never once heard Osama bin Laden, or a fundamentalist in Pakistan or Indonesia, or a Hamas spokesperson, or an Iraqi, or an Iranian, or anyone anywhere speak out with embittered resentful calls for a Holy War against say, Norway, or Switzerland.
I personally think there’s a truly important message involved in that. Even though Great Britain and Australia were (and are) allies of the USA in the Iraqi conflict, those two countries still escape most of the daily vitriol.
But perception is everything. Norway and Switzerland never register on al Quaeda’s radar - like ever - and yet, they’re just as Western and as Christian as the USA. So what’s the difference? Well, in my considered opinion, the difference is that there is a perception (rightly or wrongly) that the USA (and her commercial institutions) is an overbearing, exploitative, meddlesome, unfair, double-standards ridden behemoth who deserves to be brought down a rung or two, thank you very much.
Now, before I go any further, bear in mind that perception is not reality - even though many would argue that it is. Is the USA as bad as common perception in the rest of the world would have us believe? Obviously not… the people of the USA are a lovely, warm, articulate people. Was Iran over the top in 1979 when they started decrying the USA as the Great Satan? Obviously… and yet… the perception remains. What this says to me is that the truth is actually about 50/50… namely, that yes, the USA can be a dreadfully meddlesome pain in the arse with little, or no foresight - but equally true is that many people who blame the USA for ALL of their problems in life do so because they are unwilling to accept responsibility for many of the inherent problems within their own cultural context.
Nonetheless, even though perception might not be reality - certainly the outcomes are. The bombs, the killings, the kidnappings, the violence etc etc etc. It’s been decades and decades in the making… and just like when we decide that it’s time for us to lose weight, the solution is hardly an overnight thing. It takes months and months of dedication to even IMPLEMENT the beginnings of a turnaround. One of the inherent problems the USA has is that it has chosen to be locked into 4 year election turnarounds, with capped two term presidencies. The amount of time needed to truly implement a turnaround in global perception of the USA is so long that the need to be re-elected takes precedence - and as such, the genuine long term changes which are needed seem to me be constantly on the back foot.
In short, the USA has to work out a way to be lower profile. It has to break free of the perception that (rightly or wrongly) she deserves what she gets. She has to earn the right once again to be seen to be a non-agressive non-combatant who doesn’t DESERVE hostile actions towards her.
The War on Terror, like so many aspects of a locked in 4 year electoral term, is a function of not being able to see the forest for the trees.
As a loyal friend and ally of my American buddies on this board, please accept these insights with magnanimity. I honestly want to see the USA become a quiet peaceful place once again - and I want to see it in my lifetime. I want to see the USA have the same global radar signature as Norway. It’s in your interests guys.
It’s why I drive a Lexus. It’s a luxury car, sure, but no one ever stops consider to “coining it” in a carpark. It just doesn’t register on the radar. But the BMW’s and Merc’s of this world? There’s NO WAY I’d ever leave one parked in public.
