Vienna Update

-- On Friday evening, I was at a late night session of one of the UN bodies here until around midnight, in support of our visiting U.S. delegation. The meeting had been going since Monday morning and all were exhausted. A last minute floor fight over carefully negotiated language seemed set to throw the entire week’s work into jeopardy, but a 20 minute break called by the chair saw the parties come together on a compromise. It was an exhausting and frustrating end to a largely exhausting and frustrating week.

Setting aside the very important issue of whether or not the true U.S. national interest is served by our role in this particular UN body (an admittedly big and crucial issue but beyond my scope at the moment), I wish the American people saw more of this delegation’s work than they do. We had experts on everything from trafficking in persons to the illicit trade in antiquities staying engaged through 15 hour days and never once complaining. And when it was all done, our people were critical to reaching that last-minute compromise. They wrapped it up at 12.30am, went back to their hotel, then got on the shuttle van at 3.30am for the 6.00am flight back to Washington, D.C. for arrival mid-day on Saturday.

They will be back at work this morning and this same team will leap right back into the fray, preparing for the next G8 meeting. There are indeed some lazy and spoiled diplomats. These aren’t them.



-- While my colleagues were looking at the business end of a trans-Atlantic flight and perhaps a day off, I instead took to the u-bahn for the ride home. My children had been given special permission to stay up late since their daddy hadn’t seen them in awhile and we wanted to celebrate.

At 12.30am on a Friday night/Saturday morning in the big city, the subway was crowded. In my first train, there was a large group of college age girls, each dressed to party and drinking beer. They sang songs and laughed too loudly. In my second train, there were large groups of 5-8 young adults, up to their mid-thirties, mostly all drinking beer. They were joking around, laughing a lot, making each other laugh.

At around 1am, I pulled into my station. The station was well-lit and full of people, again mostly young. Knowing the kids were up and that we were all starving, I went up to the street level and hit the only place open at that hour: McDonalds.

The McD was crowded, but with each register open the line went fast. I was helped by a 20-something young Austrian man who spoke perfect English. I got my order, headed for the door and crossed the street to a darkened major street in 1st district Vienna. I passed two young women on the dark sidewalk; they were talking to each other in a low voice and were both dressed to kill. Super short skirts, boots, tight tops and hair done up. They say hi to me, so I say hi back. One says to me, “English, Irish?”

“American,” I say smiling.

“Oh, you look English,” she says.

“Thanks, I think,” I reply. “Nice night, everyone is out.”

“Yes, Spring is finally here.”
We talk for a bit. Finally, I ask what I’ve been wondering.

“Let me ask you something: here it is the middle of the night, downtown in the big city, two young women walking home alone. Aren’t you concerned at all?”

“No,” they both say. “This is Vienna.”

And she’s right.

Here there can be crowds on the subway drinking beer and the vibe is one of good cheer, not creepy menace. Here you can walk into a fast food restaurant in the middle of the night and there are normal people in line and talking, not wierdos covered in filth. Here, the people at that restaurant who help you are perfectly bilingual, polite, proper and clean. Here, young women can walk home drunk in short skirts after a party and not think twice about it.

This entire time, I did not see one menacing character or one police officer.

Note to American conservatives: With regard to Eurabia, physician, heal thyself.

-- Speaking of the differences, I note that a new anti-immigration, anti-EU party has not only taken the country by storm in Finland but is now the third-largest party there after elections.

The BBC quotes an Finnish professor on the rise of the True Finns:

Tampere University political analyst Ilkka Ruostetsaari told AFP news agency the election outcome was astonishing. "The True Finns' victory, surpassing every poll and every expectation of a drop on election day... plus the total collapse of the Centre - the whole thing is historic," he said.

Here is La Wik on the True Finns main platform positions. Notice especially the mix of left and right in a strong nationalist movement:

Policies of the party include:

Progressive taxation and the welfare state
Opposition to the European Union and to admission to NATO
Against EU bailouts for Greece, Ireland and Portugal
Finland should be prepared for falling of EMU and EU
Abolition of mandatory Swedish on all levels of education
State support for rural regions
Reductions in foreign aid
Strict limits on asylum-seekers
Increased state investment in infrastructure and industry
Pro-industry environmental policy
Tougher punishment for crime
Support to those arts promoting Finnish identity

Second note to American conservatives: “Dead” Europe can produce a true anti-establishment party in under two years, while you are wondering if Sarah Palin or Donald Trump is your candidate.

-- Well, you get the point and I won’t belabor the obvious. Not only is Europe much better positioned to pivot and recover from the disaster the Liberal Revolution has become, it is so much better positioned that I am beginning to feel the exact opposite of my immigrant forefathers, i.e. that my children and grandchildren may have a better future here.

-- On Wednesday morning we’re getting on a plane for Paris. I’ll be celebrating my b-day on Friday at Harry’s New York Bar, with my wife and three underage drinkers.

Let’s see...safe streets, a real culture, physical fitness a reality of everyday life, a normal relationship with alcohol, good schools, multi-lingualism, astonishing beauty, and Paris is 2 hours away.

All this place needs in one decent burrito joint and a Ruth’s Chris and I’m sold.