Lessons in International Diplomacy

It certainly hasn't been a good diplomatic day for Israel. First they threaten Jordan over its petition to the International Court of Justice to examine the role of the security fence that Israel is erecting between itself and the occupied territories. Then a report surfaces showing that Ariel Sharon's government spied on the Norwegian ambassador while hosting a meeting between opposition leader Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. After the poor behavior of an Israeli ambassador during an art show in Sweden, I wouldn't think that Israel would be all that quick to piss off another Scandinavian country.

In an effort to strengthen ties between two historical rivals, Pakistan has asked India to help it become reinstated into the Commonwealth since being suspended after the military coup of Pervez Musharraf in 1999. Since the cooperation of these two nuclear powers prevents them from blowing each other up and possibly creating a regional nuclear war, I'm very pleased that this step is being taken.

In an additional demonstration on how the Bush administration's Iran policy is off-kilter, President Mohammad Khatami, part of the 'axis of evil,' as we must remember, gave a keynote speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Let me quote from his speech:

"Military might may perhaps bring transient security, but the gap between this type of security is the difference between a security based on armed peace and peace based on compassion and friendship toward humanity."

What an evil guy, eh? Especially given how he's working to ensure that the upcoming Iranian election will be free and competitive. It's probably easier to oversimplify and lump the country in with North Korea and Iraq. Then you don't need to think as much.