Russia urged Israel on Sunday to end military attacks that had killed nearly 300 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian supplies into the territory, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
I can see where the tone of the Russian government is somewhat subdued here. Russia just completed an armed invasion of Georgia for much less than the reason Israel is preparing to re-take control of Gaza. I don't remember Georgia firing missiles across the Russian border, but still they came anyway.
Maybe, the Russians feel the need to make a customary statement. Historically, they have worded their critiques of Israeli military actions harshly, and if they say nothing, they will look like they are weakening. But at the same time, they know too harsh of a reaction will look openly hypocritical. What to do, what to do?
China's response is a bit more direct, but not much.
China is deeply concerned at the current situation in Gaza,and hopes parties involved could immediately halt the armed conflict, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Chinese op-ed press is taking potshots at America again.
The United States has been acting as the world's only superpower in 2008, but the financial turmoil, which broke out in Wall Street in September, showed its vulnerability.
In addition, the country is still deep in trouble with its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has undermined its international image.
Some analysts attributed the waning U.S. strength to its policy of unilateralism and expansionism on international issues, and its practice of a laissez-faire free market economy at home. It remains to be seen what consequences of these policies will have on U.S. national strength.
By contrast, Russia's flexing of strong muscles in the international political arena in the outgoing year indicated a marked recovery of its strength.
It's true that an economic crisis will weaken any country, but America is not the only country affected by the recent financial woes. And Russia is not in too great of a position right now, due to the downturn on the prices of oil and natural gas. So China's propaganda machine is not very convincing to those that have a basic understanding of reality.
What we have here is posturing for the coming Obama Administration. China is using negative statements to cast aspersions on the US.
Why?
To create an image of American weakness in order to manipulate the new President. Their goal is to make Obama think the world doesn't like us, so they can use the old "do what we want and we'll like you again" ploy, as a foreign policy strategy. They want to play on our innate need for acceptance and approval.
The big question is, will Obama fall for it? I think it is likely that he will, because his campaign centered around "restoring America's position in the world". So if the world wants a weaker America so it can be liked again, it is highly likely that is what it will get.
2 comments:
Of course these countries are keeping a low profile because today they risk finding themselves in the same position as Israel with the spread of radical Islamisation. It's in Russia, It's in China and it's simmering in every non democratic Arabic country in the Middle East. Which means all but one and that one is being protected against the rise of this Islamisation by you know who. No longer can these countries just go massacre several hundred thousand renegades and keep it silent.
Tzipi Livni went to Cairo several days before Israel starting it's reprisal attacks. It was reported on Guysen Televison here in France that the message was simple. We are going in and the answer from Mubarak was equally simple make it quick.
These Arab countries don't want to see Hamas radical Muslim influence spread over the Middle East and devour their countries, so they give it a couple of days and maintain a low profile and then they give lip service to the Palestinian Cause (because they are all Muslim Brothers, yeh right!)if the Israelis start to drag on which is happening as it did in Lebanon. This kind of war from the air will not achieve it's goals and the first screw up by the Israelis will really bring an outcry. One has to be a fool to not realize this. I say time to finish the job but this kind of job will never be finished and it is long overdue that we realize this. (Who wants to throw who into the sea here and since 1947) How many times have we been through these cease fires and rearm, cease fire and rearm.
The Liberal peace and Love element of course is marching in the streets of Europe but really aren't they just a bunch of hypocritical students on Winter break that have nothing better to do than manifest this so called solidarity with their Palestinian brethren (people they know nothing about)never even having visited the Middle east and understanding the situation.
The radical muslims which are the Hamas wouldn't allow these kids one iota of freedom if they were in charge. So the Palestinians voted in Hamas and now they have to live with it. Hamas killed the Fatah brethren in Gaza did what they had to do to make sure that they intimidated enough people so they could get elected and Voilà.
Rocket,
I agree with you here, I think you've hit the nail on the head.
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