Speaking to a gathering of journalists who write on defense and national security issues, Assistant Secretary Tom Countryman, leader of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation(ISN), was asked about ISN's role in monitoring arms shipments to Syria, notably by Iran and the Russian Federation.
After stating that both nations are even now still supplying arms to the Assad regime which could be used against the Syrian civilian population, Countryman said:
"We do not believe that Russian shipments of weapons to Syria are in the interests of Russia or Syria."
No word on when A/S Countryman received his commission from either Moscow or Damascus to speak on their behalf with regard to their interests.
You can, however, count on us to speak out forcefully when a matter is not in the interest of a foreign people. It's what we do.
p.s. A late Happy Anniversary to Fay and Matt!! Congrats, guys!
Do Assistant Secretaries need to have specialized training to land their jobs? Do they learn courses like Double-diplospeak 101 of which his statement is a classic example?
ReplyDeleteBecause if that is the case, I'm sure I could qualify too. Here's my example:
"Iranian development of nuclear weapons is not in the interests of Iran". How's that? Do I get an A+?
Jourdan, I can appreciate that the Assistant Secretary's comments come across as arrogant and out of scope.
ReplyDeleteHowever it has to be recognized that. like it or not, the United States continues to play a role as global hegemon.
Reasonable people may disagree as to whether this is a desirable situation, and this role will certainly come under strain in the future.
Nonetheless I would argue that it is a mistake to fail to recognize this current reality, or act as if it were not true, or retreat from it pell mell.
Also - like it or not - and with some notable exceptions - we fill this role in a collaborative fashion. Unilateral action is rare.
For every actual "action" of the hegemon, there are many, many signals sent. "Signaling" is an ancient form of statecraft. The "strong form" of the art of diplomacy is that any actual need for action is a result of a failure to properly signal. This formulation can be found in the modern European foundations of diplomacy (as codified by the French), and also Sun Tzu (Art of War).
So "signaling" is the the daily activity of the diplomat. It's what they do. The Assistant Secretary is simply filling his role. This is what hegemons do, they tell other players - both allies and adversaries - what is and is not in their interests, because in some sense the hegemon defines what those interests are. Sometimes, indeed, the hegemon signals its indifference. This too is information.
Again - reasonable people may differ as to the desirability of this situation. However, given the current reality, my personal opinion would be that it would be a mistake for the United States to signal its indifference to the outcome of what is, on the ground, a nasty civil war in Syria that threatens to become a regional conflict.
And to think that this maroon was hired while my application to become an FSO was ignored.
ReplyDeleteHow much foolishness is tolerated among the diplomatic corps?
Jourdan, I'm curious what you think about Obama threatening to reduce our nuclear arsenal by 80%. Will rank-and-file FSO's support such lunacy?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if we're sitting on a powder keg of dissent, or if everyone has thrown up their hands in weariness and disgust. This crazy train seems to be gaining momentum as it hurls down the tracks. The news is so full of jaw-dropping stories that I feel constantly stunned and angry. It's an avalanche of hopey-changitude merdi.