Sir Christopher Meyer, a member of Fleishman-Hillard’s International Advisory Board and career veteran of the British diplomatic corps (he closed out his career in 2003 as Ambassador to the United States), was here in Washington today to share his views on emerging international trends. We’ve captured some of his thoughts in the following series of video clips.
He touched a variety of issues including the spring 2010 British parliamentary elections; the evolving state of the British media; the role of the E.U. and E.U.-U.S. relations following the enactment of the Lisbon Treaty; and the changing perceptions from Europe of the U.S. since the election of Barack Obama as President. Herewith:
Globalism and its impact on nationalism:
The changing media landscape in the U.K.:
2010 British Parliamentary elections:
E.U.-U.S. relations after enactment of the Lisbon Treaty:
Changing European perceptions of the U.S. :
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1 response so far ↓
1 Chris McGrath // Nov 9, 2009 at 10:10 pm
The question from the interviewer was, “Can that alone, the Obama image, repair the popular image of the U.S. in Europe.” And his answer is, “I think the answer has to be yes…” So are we to believe, as the question was posed, that Obama’s image, his charisma, his undeserved Nobel Peace prize, is all the salve necessary for us to get in the good graces of the E.U.?? So Obama’s popular in Europe, so what? What is his popularity in the U.S.? And we want to be popular with the E.U. because we’re afraid that what, they might start a trade war? That they might not maintain their virtually non-existent aid in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, etc.?
Let Obama go on another of his popular “apology tours” and watch his numbers skyrocket in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and else where. Maybe he’ll get a repeat, or three-peat of Nobels. And that will serve U.S. national interests how exactly? Iran will want to sit down with us? Pakistani outlaws and strongmen will capitulate? The Taliban will lay down its arms?
What British member of their outdated class system has relevance to U.S. foreign policy? Sir Elton John? Sir Paul McCartney? Not since Margaret Thatcher, the last British P.M. with any cahones, has any British politician had any real relevance. Britain is about as powerful as Lichtenestein or Austria, which is to say that they are nothing. The combined intellectual power of the E.U. amounts to little more than their combined military power.
I’m sorry, but Sir Whose His Name, given the fact that he’s from a thoroughly castrated former colonial power whose 20th century atrocities against any number of colonies still resonate with those of us who have memories stretching back farther than the latest news cycle, has as much relevance as Neville Chamberlain.
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