US begins payback drive

Star Publications (Malaysia) ^ | Wednesday, April 30, 2003

[jedi150]

US begins payback drive

So far the payback campaign is symbolic, but observers worry the tone could worsen in the looming UN debate over the shape of post-war Iraq, and could trigger a trade war.

“It's posturing mainly,” said Phyllis Bennis, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Policy Studies. “But the extraordinary thing is, there hasn't been any let-up.”

Among members of the UN Security Council, the principle victim of Washington's displeasure has been Chile, which had been about to sign a free trade agreement with the US.

The deal had been bundled with a similar pact for Singapore, but has since been “unbundled.”

Singapore's Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, who supported the war, has been asked to the White House to sign his deal next week.

Chile is still seeking a date, and the US trade representative, Robert Zoellick, has mused publicly on America's “disappointment” with Chile's attitude in its time of need.

Canada has also been on the receiving end of White House anger. A visit to Ottawa next week has been cancelled, because President George W. Bush is too busy. However, time has been found to host Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, an enthusiast for the war, at the presidential ranch in Texas.

Tony Garza, US ambassador to Mexico, another security council member that opposed the war, promised his hosts there would be no direct economic reprisals. But, he added: “The fallout will be that things won't happen as quickly as Mexico would like.”

And this year's Mexican Cinco de Mayo holiday, previously marked by the Bush White House, will be toned down or not held at all.

US officials say measures against France and Germany are still being contemplated. But the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has made it clear there would be a price to pay.

In Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday dismissed a report in the Asian Wall Street Journal that the United States planned to punish Thailand for failing to support the US-led war in Iraq, and insisted there were “no problems” in US-Thai relations.

“Some foreign newspapers have very low standards. The Thai media should not pay attention to them,” Thaksin said.

The newspaper reported on Monday that Thaksin's government was likely to be a “target for punishment” for its failure to publicly support the US invasion of Iraq.

In the lead-up to the invasion, Thaksin publicly steered a neutral course. – The Guardian/ dpa

[Billthedrill]

It is hardly surprising that the Institute for Policy Studies should View With Alarm any action by the Bush administration since that's primarily what they do for a living. What is astonishing to me is that anyone is surprised at this sort of activity - it is, after all, how international diplomacy is conducted. Should Germany not support France's war in the Ivory Coast one would not be surprised at a certain iciness in trade negotiations going on at the same time. The countries who supported us in Iraq did so at considerable political risk and ought to be rewarded commensurately; those who did not do so ought quite properly troop to the back of the line. This is not petty, and it isn't "punishment," it is simply life in the real world.

[garyhope]

Too bad about Chile, they make some decent wine.

[zechariah]

Too bad about Chile, they make some decent wine.

Yes, but so does Australia. I don't buy much wine, but I expect that a large percentage of what I do buy in the future will come from the land down under.

I'm not much of a beer drinker either, but I'm going to try and remind myself to try a Fosters next time the opportunity comes.

[z]

[Dog Gone]

I don't think Thailand's position on the Iraq war even registered on our radar, so I think they're being paranoid.

Which isn't all bad.

We want the world to know that we value friendship and dislike perfidy.

[Uncle Miltie]

Against Us Bump.

[thegreatbeast]

Fear not, you will still be able to get your wine and your winter fruits from Chile but they will be more expensive to import into this counrty is all.
The decisions of all these countries were theirs to make. If they couldn't read the tea leaves better than they did, then they deserve what they have coming to them.

[1066AD]

“It's posturing mainly,” said Phyllis Bennis, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Policy Studies. “But the extraordinary thing is, there hasn't been any let-up.”
Ha ha,finally realizing that this administration means what it says, a refreshing change from its predecessor; a rude wake up call for some.

[gcruse]

Robert Zoellick, has mused publicly on America's
 “disappointment” with Chile's attitude in its time of need.

I love it so.  Now it's Chile's turn for disappointment on free trade.

[gcruse]

I've seen posted several times by others that the Foster's you can buy here is brewed in Canada.

[Brian Allen]

<< Too bad about Chile, it makes some decent wine. >>

None that is a patch on Australia's wines, though, which -- "romance" aside -- are, across the board, by far and most consistently the world's best.

Australia puts better wine in gallon jugs, [And "wine casks" -- plastic bags in cardboard boxes] for the winos, than most countries market as their best.

Every one of the major Australian winemakers is a Graduate Scientist A Chemist and/or a Botanist -- etceteras.

And his product reflects it.

[arkfreepdom]

I'm not much of a beer drinker either, but I'm going to try and remind myself to try a Fosters next time the opportunity comes.

Fosters sold in the US is bottled in Canada...unfortunately.

[AMNZ]

Don't worry. Great reds from Australia, excellent whites from New Zealand.

[zechariah]

I've seen posted several times by others that the Foster's you can buy here is brewed in Canada.

Oh well. I guess I'll have to think of something else...

[z]

[The Iguana]

Time to offer Chile's spot in NAFTA to Australia, perhaps?

[Mentos]

Yes, but so does Australia. I don't buy much wine, but I expect that a large percentage of what I do buy in the future will come from the land down under.

A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain. Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines. Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn. Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favourably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: 8 bottles of this and you're really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour. Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is 'beware'. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding. Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat. Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends. Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine's armpit.

[zechariah]

None that is a patch on Australia's wines,

Er, what does "a patch" mean?

[z]

[shaggy eel]

,,, Brian, what are Aussie VS: Chilean wine prices like in the US? Some of the Chilean wines we're getting in New Zealand are particularly good as far as value for money/picnic wines go. The Aussie reds are superb but they've never been value shoppers' wines.