Spring Time in America
Basra is being strained with 25 dead over the last few days. That is where the British lectured the US on following their lead by going "softly softly". Well the British did go softly softly and left Basra to the Iraqis.
The Arabs, to a country, hardly help at all in Iraq. They are too busy spending their oil money building cities and buying things to be of much assistance. They have also been getting a little sniffy about the dollar. They seem more disposed to "eau d'Euro".
The Germans are all for Nato troops in Afghanistan as long as they do not have to fight. The legacy of their grandfathers still has them traumatized.
One in ten Ohioans is on some type of public assistance and two of three likely candidates for the US presidency have other ideas about US involvements around the world. Tony Blair had no small part in encouraging the US to be more involved in Iraq. (The famous British Dossier on Iraqi WMD's impressed this army of one.)
Thanks for the advice Mr. Brown, but I think softly softly needs to be re-examined.
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Gordon Brown to tell US to re-engage in world
By Andrew Porter, Political Editor Telegraph
Last Updated: 2:21am GMT 26/03/2008
Gordon Brown is to urge America to re-engage with the world in the manner which it did after the Second World War, saying the world is at a point in history when it needs American "values and leadership".
In a landmark speech next month which will be given on his second official visit to the United States as Prime Minister, Mr Brown will also appeal to the American people saying the US has always provided inspirational leadership at crucial times in world history and this is a point in history when it is needed again.
Gordon Brown's speech will be directed more at the candidates campaigning to succeed President George W Bush
Significantly making the speech in the Kennedy Library in Boston, Mr Brown will evoke the memory of JFK as well as other American leaders he feels have been vital to global peace and prosperity including Presidents Truman and Roosevelt.
While arguing that the challenges of post-1945 are different to today's, he believes that the leadership which President Truman gave in helping Europe should be drawn upon.
Today's global challenges include extremism and climate change, he is expected to argue.
A Downing Street source said: "He feels that this is a time for new US leadership and time to face up to the challenges. Iraq should not be allowed to cloud people's judgement that America can and should be a force for good."
The Prime Minister is to visit the United States in three weeks time for his first lengthy trip to the country as Prime Minister.
His speech will be pro-American, defying promptings from Labour MPs that he should be more of a critic of Washington.
The speech will be likened to Tony Blair's Chicago speech in 1999 which guided his foreign policy and included his first outlining of the "liberal interventionist" doctrine.
That subsequently guided his actions in foreign affairs including, with varying degrees of success, the military action in Kosovo and Iraq.
The speech will be directed more at the potential new US Presidents, Republican John McCain, and the two Democrat challengers Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, rather than the incumbent George Bush.
Mr Brown fears that after the Iraq war America's incoming administration may revert to a less engaged outlook in order to appease voters.
Some of the candidates have also been advocating protectionist trade measures which Europe and Britain oppose.
But the Prime Minister is likely to point out the great post-war institutions like the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were all driven by the United States.
It is American values that can shape the new global architecture, Downing Street believes.
Another Number 10 source said: "The Prime Minister has always made clear that he is a strong Atlanticist and he also believes that the problems of the world can only be solved with the United States actively engaged."
In his Chicago speech, Mr Blair talked about humanitarian and just wars. However Mr Brown is expected instead to talk of how global institutions can bring countries together so they can work more effectively than is currently the case.
On the four-day trip, Mr Brown will be keen to establish himself more on the world stage than has been the case since he took over from Mr Blair.
He is not widely known in the States in contrast to his predecessor who was seen in a great light for his support of America after 9/11 and over Iraq.
Brown believes the leadership which President Truman gave in helping Europe rebuild after WWII should be drawn upon
Downing Street confirmed that Mr Brown will visit America from the April 16 to 20.
Mr Brown first visited Washington in July last year, a month after becoming Prime Minister.
In contrast to the matey, "jeans and bomber jacket" style of Mr Blair's meetings with President Bush, Mr Brown adopted a more formal approach.
He wore his trademark blue suit and his only concession to Camp David informality was when he was taken for a spin by the President in a golf cart.
The British Government's decision to withdraw troops from Basra soon after Mr Brown took office reportedly irritated Washington.
Last week Mr McCain visited Downing Street. Mr Brown is determined to appear impartial in the race for the White House despite Labour's strong links with the Democrats.
The Prime Minister believes there should be stronger institutions which can act as an early warning system for financial markets.
