Mark Malloch Brown: 'Let's not rely just on US'

The Telegraph ^ | July 15, 2007 | By Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson

[americanophile]

Mark Malloch Brown hadn't even ordered his ermine before he became the most contentious appointment to Gordon Brown's Government of all the talents.

While the aid agencies and liberals were still toasting the arrival of "Saint Mark" to Whitehall, the neo-cons on both sides of the Atlantic were throwing darts at photographs of their devil.

The former deputy secretary general to the UN divides opinion between those who see him as the great hope for Africa and a principled opponent of the war in Iraq, and those who believe that he is an anti-American egotist who defended Kofi Annan over the oil-for-food scandal.

Irwin Stelzer, Rupert Murdoch's right-hand man, called his appointment, "appalling".

[sageb1]

“As long as the actual leadership remains pragmatic we’re in good shape.”

However, if the Clintons get back into the WH, it will embolden Brown/Malloch Brown. Gordon Brown came up with an alternative Kyoto (same purpose, of course - to screw America), based on Soros economics. Malloch-Brown is a weapon added to the arsenal.

[sageb1]

“Gordon Malloch-Brown is in Soros’s right-hand pocket.”

Of course he is. See my post #21.

[britemp]

‘We are one of the only countries that can go it alone to defend our intrests. Let them backbite us all day. One day soon when the UK has lost its sovereignty to the EU and russia,china,and the muslims are threating their interests(the EU is powerless and weak). They will then realize their mistake(well probably not) on who is their real ally and brother.’

Realising that won’t do us any good if all Americans are isolationists like you Markus who don’t believe in allies. Half the time people on here post that ‘europe’ should stand on it’s own feet and not rely on the US and then as soon as someone suggests that’s what we’ll do, we’re told we’ll regret it and that we’re being anti-American. Make your minds up and get back to us with the decision! :)

[MARKUSPRIME]

Join the EU. The US will defend our interests. Enjoy your brussels Franco/German leadership. :)

[americanophile]

Well, your point is the essence of the “Special Relationship.” Unique among nations, Britain has been able to partially integrate into Europe while retaining a strong military, an independent foreign policy and a close trans-Atlantic alliance.

Britain and America were thick as thieves during the Cold War, while other nations, like France, were a constant thorn in the side of the U.S., while at the same time benefiting from U.S. protection. It’s this kind of duplicity that infuriates Americans.

Moreover, it seems as though any time anyone in Europe discusses being more self-reliant, the concept is immediately conceived as requiring EU opposition to the U.S. This is as foolish as it is insulting. One would think it would be possible for Europe to be both self-reliant and U.S. friendly.

Britain has long been the exception, but I fear it will be subsumed by Europe. What a shame.

[RichInOC]

He believes he has always been in tune with mainstream America. "From Colin Powell to Condi Rice all the way through to Richard Holbrooke or Madeleine Albright, across that massive swath of American foreign policy, I would bet you a drink that you would find that I am their favourite multi-nationalist Brit.

Mark, those folks, delightful and intelligent cocktail-party company though they may be to you, are not necessarily the same thing as "mainstream America". The average American probably has no idea whom you are, would not even recognize the name. And a good number of those who do undoubtedly think of you as "oh, that a**hole."