Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Diplomacy vs. politics

It is simply too dangerous to let the politicians deal with diplomacy. Diplomacy is about surviving until the next century. Politics is about surviving until the Friday afternoon.

A fascinating clip about how democracy and politics vs. international relations works. Thanks to TRS for pointing it out to me. Now, this particular part interested me:



What fun! Well, surely UK have always been a bit self-centered, thinking it still determines which way the winds of the planet blow. It can’t be helped, I suppose.

The best part is the conversation of Bernard with the Foreign Office members starting at 4:00.

Of course, political games are the only thing that UK can do nowadays. US can resort to different tactics (starting 2:03):


— I have it from the ambassador in Washington that Americans are going to support the current government of St. George’s Island.
— In the UN?
— No. In battle. On the St. George’s Island. They’ll send 7th Airborn Division backed up by fleet.
(There must have been a Republican president in office in the show’s timeline.)

2 comments:

Just like a guy said...

Well, the show ran during the Reagan-Thatcher years, so yes, the American response sounds appropriate.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Ah, those were the times. When leaders of the west had spine. And guts. And certain other organs.