A Level Gaze

A Level Gaze

"What effect must it have on a nation if it learns no foreign languages? Probably much the same as that which a total withdrawal from society has upon an individual."
--G.C. Lichtenberg

Thursday, September 12, 2002

Chrétien denies suggesting U.S. arrogance fuelled attacks

This article discusses the reaction to a July interview that was aired on Wednesday.

In an interview that aired last night on CBC-TV, the Prime Minister for the first time suggested the strikes against New York and Washington stemmed from a growing international anger at the way the United States flexes its muscle around the globe.

"You cannot exercise your powers to the point of humiliation for the others. That is what the Western world -- not only the Americans, the Western world -- has to realize. Because they are human beings too. There are long-term consequences," Mr. Chrétien said in the pre-taped interview.

"And I do think that the Western world is getting too rich in relation to the poor world and necessarily will be looked upon as being arrogant and self-satisfied, greedy and with no limits. The 11th of September is an occasion for me to realize it even more."

Chrétien's main political opponent, Opposition Leader Stephen Harper, characterized Chrétien's statements as "blaming the victim" and "shameful."

Ok, first, does anybody dispute that the conduct of the U.S. government toward the rest of the world, especially under GWB, has been arrogant? Anyone? Did we ever act towards other countries and their citizens out of anything other than our own interests? Does anybody think that the the rest of the world, especially the poor, would have been more disposed in favor of the U.S. if we had been less arrogant? If we had been (gasp!) sympathetic to their plight, would they hate us as much? It's one thing to see a big, rich, well-dressed guy on the street, but when he looks down his nose at you and growls that you'd best get out his way or be kicked, it's another.

Does anybody think it's a good idea to be arrogant? If so, how do we benefit from it?

Does anybody really think it's a coincidence that so many people in so many different parts of the world have come to the same conclusion about us? If not, then why to they say such things? Do conservatives think it's a plot to...uh...hurt our feelings? Is it really so far-fetched that we might not be the best judges of how we're perceived by the citizens of other countries? If they do think we're arrogant, does it make them more or less likely to attack us?

Sorry, they're all no-brainers.

via Instapundit

posted by David at 9/12/2002 03:18:00 PM ::

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