A time for real friends…
Whatever the outcome of the elections this week in the United States, spare a thought for President Bush as he surveys the lack of steadfastness of some of his neo-conservative supporters. Probably the most unfortunate speech made by this President – the axis of evil peroration – was written by David Frum. It got huge headlines and is certainly memorable: the resulting damage was incalculable. The neo-cons took hold of a wholly legitimate desire to enhance democracy and human rights and invested it with a zeal to control and re-organise humanity that a disciple of Karl Marx would have recognised.
We need the United States as a force for good in the world, with all its generous impulses. The failure of the neo-cons, now so busily rushing for the door, must not be allowed to push Americans away from engaging with the world we live in, warts and all. America’s true friends should not be slavish, as we have appeared to be under Tony Blair.
We may be approaching a moment, however, when the United States will need to be reassured of the friendship and admiration of so many around the world.