“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” –George Santayana
Above is Santayana’s famous aphorism. I wonder what he would say about those who choose not to remember it?
Seventy years ago Tuesday, September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and began World War II. This was a war that took the lives of millions upon millions of people, devastated a continent, and nearly wiped God’s chosen people from the the earth.
To remember this awful anniversary the leaders of the world gathered in Poland. There you would find Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, France’s Sarkozy, Italy’s Berlusconi, and of course James Jones. You know James Jones, right? Well, you should, because this is who was representing the United States.
James Jones, Gen. James L. Jones actually, is Obama’s National Security Advisor. You would be right in surmising that Gen. Jones is pretty far down on the list of people you would expect to represent the U.S. on such an historic occasion. But guess what, he wasn’t even the first choice for the gig. The first choice is someone who isn’t even on the totem pole, former Clinton Defense Secretary William J. Perry. The message to our friends the Poles: We. Don’t. Care.
The Washington Times tells the sad story.
The Polish government sent out the invitation three months ago to the White House, but an answer was received only on Wednesday, a mere five days before the ceremony. Repeated attempts over the summer by the Poles to contact the White House and the State Department met with a long period of silence. One White House aide actually replied that everyone was on vacation until after Labor Day, which caused a Polish official to say he apologized that Adolf Hitler had invaded his country on Sept. 1.
The initial answer from the White House almost defied belief. The head of the official U.S. delegation was not to be a member of the Obama administration but former Clinton Defense Secretary William J. Perry. Over the weekend, a change was announced, and the U.S. delegation is to be headed by National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones. Gen. Jones will head the U.S. delegation, rather than President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. or Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gen. Jones will stand alongside Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Anyone want to play “who doesn’t belong in this picture?”
The lack of understanding of European history and sensitivities was not lost on the Polish chattering classes. They have been in a justifiable uproar over this mother of all snubs, feeling a mixture of humiliation and neglect. For an administration that pledged to prioritize public diplomacy, this treatment of an ally was appalling. Unsurprisingly, popular opinion of the United States took a serious nose dive in Poland.
Look, I can maybe understand if the President didn’t go, even though I think he should have. But honestly, what the heck was Joe Biden doing that is so important that he couldn’t break away for a few days huh? Or at the very least Hillary. I mean, Hillary just spent a week yelling at students in the the Congo … THE CONGO! But she couldn’t be spared for a memorial marking the start of the greatest conflagration the world has ever known?
Of course, they could have and should have. Our enemies get ex-Presidents (Bubba). Our friends, James Jones. This has clearly damaged relations with a good and strategically placed friend of the United States. The amateurs in the White House are historically ignorant, insensitive, and dangerous.
With friends like these…
September 4, 2009 at 4:29 am
The current administration doesn't have time to remember the old genocide.
It is too busy orchestrating a new one.
September 4, 2009 at 5:22 am
This is pure callow madness, the kind one might expect from a Leftist university instructor but not from the United States of America.
September 4, 2009 at 6:46 am
The 60th anniversary. Wow. Right up there with the 75th.
Obama was just in Europe several times already this year for the G8 summit and the D-day memorial celebration and when he got to drop the kids at the Pope's house. Were he to leave, his pundits would undoubtedly gnash their teeth saying he is spending too much time abroad.
I do agree that Biden, who most likely will be making card-houses on his desk that day (or any day) should be the obvious person to send. But maybe the Catholic Poles would give him a talkin' to, in which case that would leave Hilary. In the end, Poland knows which side it's bread is buttered on. So, regardless of the slight, where else are they going to look? East?
But I would also agree that Obama is making a shambles of US-European relations overall. Not that Bush did any better or worse. But Obama certainly branded himself as being able to do a better job at it. And he hasn't.
September 4, 2009 at 7:35 am
Actuall, Germany invaded Poland 70 years ago.
I guess Patrick wasn't homeschooled 🙂 ?
September 4, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Very funny Stefan! I was thinking the same thing- I wasn't homeschooled but I homeschool my daughter!
September 4, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I really shouldn’t worry too much about it; after all we in Europe are used to our US friends turning up fashionably late for our scraps. I wonder if after Pearl Harbour, had Hitler not declared war on the USA, would you have bothered with Europe at all or concentrated your efforts solely in the Pacific, discuss.
September 4, 2009 at 12:55 pm
60 is now 70. Thanks. It was late…
September 4, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Wow… This saddens me, but it does not surprise me. Sigh. When's the next election??
September 4, 2009 at 1:22 pm
People, people. You seem to be forgetting that Obama is the great diplomatic healer.
That's one of the reasons he was elected, right? Because Bush had alientated so many of our friends abroad.
Move along, nothing to see here.
September 4, 2009 at 1:53 pm
This event bothered me more as a Catholic than as an American (okay, it bothered my patriotism too:) But how can we send a message in Cairo that Muslims are the greatest people on the face of the earth, and totally ignore a largely Catholic country? Are we or are we not predominantly Christian in this nation? Or doesn't that matter anymore? Why the push to align ourselves with the Axis of Terror, while slapping our Allies in the face? Is this a push to be totally the opposite of Bush? I mean correction is one thing, but antithesis? Come on Obama!
I don't blame Jones for going…No I mean I'd choose hopping a plane over fetching coffee for Gates and fixing the copy machine paper jam all day too…
September 4, 2009 at 3:28 pm
The same administration who says they are still keeping diplomatic talks with Iran open…
September 4, 2009 at 4:22 pm
The Obamination set the diplomatic tone of this administration shortly after his coronation … I mean election.
Traditionally, the first overseas call by the president is to the prime minister of England.
Instead, he went to visit his "brothers with which [he has] so much in common" the Muslims. How much they have in common has been the subject to speculation and he's even slipped publicly on occassion, self-identifying with the wrong side in the War on Terror.
His election was like electing Senator Hiyakawa for President in 1940.
September 4, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Will there be a get together on the 17th of September? That's the day the Soviets invaded the other half of Poland.
Putin anyone?
September 4, 2009 at 7:21 pm
K, I know the joke goes "diplomacy is saying 'nice doggy' until you get a big stick"– but you're supposed to hit the mean dog with said stick, not your own group….
September 4, 2009 at 7:49 pm
ugh. typical.
September 4, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Oh c'mon, at least B.O. bowed to Saudi royalty. So we know he isn't completely arrogant towards other countries. Look at how he jumped aboard ship with Castro & Chavez after the Hondurans ousted their Chief Executive. Doesn't that show diplomacy? And let's not forget other nuanced diplomatic gestures, like giving the PM of Britain a set of DVD's featuring America's greatest movies.
Nuance, it's all about nuance.
September 5, 2009 at 6:59 am
Poland is the most faithful and ardent pro-US ally America has outside of the Anglosphere, and certainly the greatest partner of America in the EU. This snub is astounding.
September 5, 2009 at 7:10 am
I don't know Kilroy, what would you consider Georgia then?
September 5, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I think Obama would consider Georgia just the newest part of Russia.
September 5, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Patty,
Georgia isn't a member of the EU.