"When we get this moment of political silliness behind us," US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters at at an Asia-Pacific leaders conference in Bali on 5 October, "we will get back on a track the world will respect and want to be part of."
If you say so, Mr Secretary. Both politicians and pundits here in the country's capital seem to underestimate how difficult it will be to undo the damage that's being done to the reputation and standing of the United States by the federal government 'shutdown' that began on 1 October.
The world is laughing at America. Not since Fidel Castro and Robert Mugabe offered to send observers to help with US presidential elections, in the wake of Florida's 'hanging chad' debacle in 2000, has it been this easy to poke fun at the most powerful nation on earth.
Yes, the United States. The richest economy on the globe. The planet's proudest democracy. The world's only superpower. And it doesn't have a functioning government. Out of choice.
In the short run, there may be a silver lining in all this silliness for the Secretary of State. As America's top diplomat, Kerry has had to try and keep a lid on growing anti-Americanism, provoked by the Obama administration's drone war in Pakistan, its failure to shut the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and the NSA mass surveillance scandal. Full story...
Related posts:
If you say so, Mr Secretary. Both politicians and pundits here in the country's capital seem to underestimate how difficult it will be to undo the damage that's being done to the reputation and standing of the United States by the federal government 'shutdown' that began on 1 October.
The world is laughing at America. Not since Fidel Castro and Robert Mugabe offered to send observers to help with US presidential elections, in the wake of Florida's 'hanging chad' debacle in 2000, has it been this easy to poke fun at the most powerful nation on earth.
Yes, the United States. The richest economy on the globe. The planet's proudest democracy. The world's only superpower. And it doesn't have a functioning government. Out of choice.
In the short run, there may be a silver lining in all this silliness for the Secretary of State. As America's top diplomat, Kerry has had to try and keep a lid on growing anti-Americanism, provoked by the Obama administration's drone war in Pakistan, its failure to shut the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and the NSA mass surveillance scandal. Full story...
Related posts:
- US shutdown has other nations confused and concerned...
- US govt shuts down for 1st time in 17 years as budget talks fail...
- Licensed to kill: The growing phenomenon of police shooting unarmed citizens...
- The US: world's policeman or schoolyard bully?
- More Americans don't trust their government...
- More Americans stop looking for work...
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