Saturday, November 13, 2004
From ABC news online:
The United States, which long dismissed Mr Arafat as an obstacle to peace, will be represented by Assistant Secretary of State William Burns while UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will be represented by Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larson.
Cut the political correctness. So policy interests come first before anything else. I really don't think world leaders deserve to be called hypocrites (not these two at least), but I can't help it - what wit the flowery tributes when the funeral of a fellow leader does not warrant to be important enough to be attended by some of the most powerful heads of state. This marks the passing of a leader not some fancy diplomatic cocktail party. I am feeling increasingly despondent at the current state of diplomacy.
The United States, which long dismissed Mr Arafat as an obstacle to peace, will be represented by Assistant Secretary of State William Burns while UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will be represented by Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larson.
Cut the political correctness. So policy interests come first before anything else. I really don't think world leaders deserve to be called hypocrites (not these two at least), but I can't help it - what wit the flowery tributes when the funeral of a fellow leader does not warrant to be important enough to be attended by some of the most powerful heads of state. This marks the passing of a leader not some fancy diplomatic cocktail party. I am feeling increasingly despondent at the current state of diplomacy.
