In a major foreign policy outline speech delivered at the Virginia Military Institute yesterday, Mitt Romney demonstrated the extent of his delusions of American grandeur. If anyone ever wondered what it was that ‘they’ hated about ‘us’ then this speech provided the answer – the utter arrogance and hypocrisy of the American extreme right.
It’s all in Romney’s choice of words. How’s this for arrogance; he wants “to use America’s great power to shape history”. Or this; “So many people across the world still look to America as the best hope of humankind.” And this; “The 21st century can and must be an American century.” And this; “The torch America carries is one of decency and hope. It is not America’s torch alone. But it is America’s duty – and honor – to hold it high enough that all the world can see its light.”
And what about this for hypocrisy; “I will make it clear to the recipients of our aid that, in return for our material support, they must meet the responsibilities of every decent modern government—to respect the rights of all of their citizens, including women and minorities… to ensure space for civil society, a free media, political parties, and an independent judiciary”. Clearly, Romney needs to take a good hard look at how his own nation has evolved and is functioning today; a classic case of ‘don’t do as I do, do as I say’.
As Michael Cohen writing in the UK Guardian says: “…the Republican nominee’s fantasy of American power reveals a fragile grasp of global realities”.
Needless to say, the neoconservatives, what with the polls closing in on Obama, are rapt. Alana Goodman writing in the neoconservative Commentary magazine says: “Anyone who worried Mitt Romney would be overly cautious or avoid taking strong stances during his foreign policy speech today was proved wrong.”
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