"You need to build coalitions that are lateral, which go beyond the bilateral blinkers of the normal partners" - Malloch-Brown
I must admit that this comment has endeared me anew to the Brown regime, and that the US and UK are no longer considered to be joined at the hip by the government can give us hope for a new, more impartial and hopefully more sympathetic and multilateral foreign policy. The appointment of Malloch-Brown, ex UN Deputy Secretary General and critic of the Iraq war, in itself makes a statement about his feelings on the situation there. The political commentators are not expecting him to make any real changes to the current policy in Iraq however, so have these measures been put in place to convince the public that had he been in power in 2003 I would not have gone to war...but now that it's happened, there's not a lot I can do. If this is the case, I think the effect of these symbolic appointments and indications of 'small shifts' will not appease the public for long. It seems obvious that these gestures are being engineered in order to try and play on people's anti-US/anti-Iraq feelings to ensure that should Brown hold a snap election early next year, he would be guaranteed votes. I would love to say that if he does not set a full withdrawal timetable before an election, I have faith that the public will not vote Labour next year, or the year after...but I can't and I don't. Although I believe such a move, if achieved cautiously and with full support to the Iraqi government and security forces, could secure his legacy, and his future as PM. We will just have to wait until September to find out what his next move will be.
Although it seems clear that Brown is not wishing to 'cosy up' to the European Union after taking a slight side-step in the relationship with the US, but wishes to foster better bilateral relations with countries such as France, Germany, India and (surprise surpise) China. Even as a pro-European, I can understand Brown's refusal to grant more foreign policy powers to the EU. Passing such powers over would castrate us in terms of remaining our own country. As far as I'm concerned the EU should be a cooperative body, not one that passes our powers of legitimation onto a body somewhere in Brussels. We should be able to have a say in our own foreign policy...even if this hasn't been the case in the past...we can hope for the future. However, this will limit our links with the EU, and if we are going to distance ourselves from the US at the same time, we must concentrate all our powers of negotiation on fostering good relations with Merkel, Sarkozi et al. I think Brown may be making a very sensible move here. Keeping links with America, whilst making it clear that they will not be 'inseparable', thus paving the way for better links with the big European powers. Although the man is incredibly intelligent, so I am not surprised. For now, I will remain suspicious, but ever hopeful that Brown will prove to me that he is a Prime Minister with integrity.
The other news of the weekend was the death of the frankly brilliant (see what I did there) actor, Mike Reid, aka. Frank Butcher. Never again will he turn up on Pat's doorstep in nothing but his birthday suit and a flashing, spinning bow tie. R.I.P. Mike and forever will your memory live on.
Finally, I have now completely 100% decided (I hope!) on my dissitation topic. Much more appropriate, more interesting etc. So now the research begins...
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