Day.kiev.ua
DAY AFTER DAY
Angela Merkel could not meet with Mitt Romney, but Warsaw met him with applause
By Yurii RAIKHEL
US presidential candidates are traditionally not versed in foreign policy and at times this led to anecdotal situation. For example, Ronald Reagan mistook Brazil for Bali and Mali for Morocco. During a televised debate he failed to recognize the portrait of President Giscard d’Estaing. In Europe this faux pas could have ended in total fiasco. Not in America. Ronnie was their man after he declared that it wasn’t important that he didn’t recognize someone; the important thing was that everybody recognized him.
Even though foreign policy more often than not has no effect on the presidential election, each candidate appears to be committed to travel around the world to present himself and his view on US foreign policy, if and when elected. That was precisely why Mitt Romney flew to Europe and the Middle East.
Great Britain traditionally topped the list — not only as a tribute to an old unfailing ally, but also to show Europe which country was America’s favorite. At the campaign headquarters, the former Massachusetts governor’s trip was described as the beginning of a large foreign political offensive that would change the course of the campaign. Political analyst Doug Schaefer notes that for the past six months Mitt Romney has focused on President Obama’s economic policy, so if he wants to make a politician on a nationwide scale, he will have to explain in detail America’s role in today’s world.
Romney’s trip to Europe didn’t go well from the start. Angela Merkel was unavailable for a one-on-one meeting with the presidential candidate and the visit to London left much to be desired.
On arriving in London to attend the opening of the Olympics, Romney said the preparations had been “disconcerting” [pointing to the failure of a private security contractor to provide the number of guards it had promised]. Prime Minister David Cameron’s caustic response was: “We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world… Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.” (Romney ran the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.)
After that the US presidential hopeful offended Ed Miliband, leader of the British opposition, by forgetting his name [and addressing him as “Mr. Leader”], then followed a gaffe that could have been expected from an inexperienced assistant to a senator, never from a battle-hardened statesman. Romney told a press conference that he had met with the head of MI6 (the British intelligence agency). The British press pounced. “The existence of MI6, the international arm of the British secret service, was not officially acknowledged until 1994, 82 years after it was established. But the organisation is still shrouded in secrecy, and its operations – and the diary schedule of its chief – are rarely acknowledged. But here comes Romney, in fully open mode: ‘I appreciated the insights and perspectives of the leaders of the government here and the opposition here as well as the head of MI6. Got any pics, Mitt?’” wrote The Guardian.
Britons have always held their clandestine agencies in esteem; the secrecy of MI6 is a tradition and traditions are upheld on the Isles.
Romney’s other blunder was linguistic (The Guardian further wrote): “There are two things you should know before you ‘look out of the backside of 10 Downing Street,’ as Mitt Romney did on Thursday. Firstly, in Britain, ‘backside’ means ‘ass.’ As in the part of the body. Secondly, ‘10 Downing Street’ is often used in political reporting as a synonym for a press spokesman for the prime minister, in the same way as ‘the White House’ can say things or have opinions.”
The Middle East part of his trip was marked by militant statements and he referred to Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, sending the Palestinians ballistic. He threatened Iran with military invasion unless they stop their nuclear buildup. Then came Russia’s turn. In an interview with Fox News he said Russia is consistently blocking US moves at the UN, adding that the two countries are not enemies and are not at war; this isn’t the Cold War, but that Russia remains America’s geopolitical foe.
Romney’s visit to Poland turned out to be a better experience. He met with Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and expressed gratitude to Poland for its support in the course of military conflicts. Sikorski, for his part, stressed that there are excellent relationships between Warsaw and Washington, regardless of which US party is in power. After meeting with President Bronislaw Komorowski, the presidential candidate visited Warsaw University and addressed a student audience that met him with applause. Then he paid homage to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier and the monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw. Even though part of protocol, these acts had a profound symbolic meaning.
Not coincidentally, meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, he discussed problems of world politics, including relationships with Russia and Ukraine.
Romney’s visit to Poland was doubtlessly meant to secure votes from the strong Polish diaspora in the US. However, this visit also revealed substantial differences within the US Establishment. Apart from campaign rhetoric and its being distant from realpolitik (something germane to all US presidential candidates), Moscow and Kyiv received an important signal from Warsaw about a shift in US policy if and when there is a new White House host.
Those in power in Ukraine should pray for Obama’s re-election. If Romney becomes president and keeps even 30 percent of his campaign promises, many in official Kyiv will feel very uncomfortable about issues relating to democracy, human rights, and the struggle against corruption that will once again be in the limelight. No one across the ocean will be afraid of Kyiv going through the motions of siding with Russia. Much as some of the Party of Regions – and Viktor Medvedchuk – would want it, joining Moscow in some kind of space or alliance is no longer possible, for this would mean losses too heavy for the local oligarchs and their sycophants to sustain. Gaffes notwithstanding, Romney’s visit to Europe has yielded results. Now it is the US voters’ turn.
COMMENTARY
Mitt Romney’s visit to Poland is especially interesting for the Ukrainians. That is why we decided to ask the analyst of the Institute of International Relations at the University of Warsaw Andrzej SZEPTYCKI what his opinion about Romney’s visit to his country is:
“This visit was not very specific. Romney did not tell the Poles anything important or interesting. When he recently visited Israel he emphasized that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is very important for the Jewish. However, going to another country and saying that it has great history is very easy.
“In Poland Romney said nothing about the visa regime and avoided the issue of relations with Russia. It seems to me that the main goal of that visit was the election campaign in the US for which he decided to take a photo with Lech Walesa. Now he will be able to show this photo to the Polish electors living in the US.
“On the other hand, this visit was very important for the Polish government and media. Romney met Minister Sikorski and President Komorowski. He also ran a lecture at the University of Warsaw attended by many experts and journalists.
“As for the boycott of his visit by the representatives of the Solidarity trade-union, Walesa is a historical leader of this organization but his political preferences have evolved over the years [Romney visited Poland invited by Lech Walesa. – Ed.]. Solidarity is very determined: the trade-union representing workers should not communicate with such big business representatives as Romney and support them. It was their main argument: the American oligarch cannot be a real partner for a workers’ organisation”.
