… the More They Stay The Same
by Nebojsa Malic
This past May, voters in Serbia were subjected to a barrage of propaganda about how the “democratic reformers” would lead the country into a better, prosperous future, while the “nationalists” would somehow plunge it back into the “horrors of the 1990s.” In yet another twist of Balkans irony, the “reformers” eventually ended up in a political marriage with the Socialists, who were actually in charge during the “horrible 1990s.” In 2000, American and British ambassadors were organizing the Democrats to overthrow the Socialists and their leader, Slobodan Milosevic, from power; today, they broker a coalition between them – all in the name of “Euro-Atlantic integrations” and “eternal friendship.” Or was that obedience?
Making matters even more humorous, the most passionate “reformers” and “democrats” today are actually biological and political heirs of the old Communists who lost an internal power struggle to Milosevic – in 1987.
Serbia is not the only country where the expired has been repackaged as new, though. The Empire itself may meet a similar fate this fall.
There is little doubt that John McCain represents the “old” – or rather, the continuation of policies and ideas championed by the present occupant of the White House. In that context, it is easy to believe that Barack Obama is “new.” He is certainly different from many previous candidates for Emperor, and he keeps talking about “change.” Until, that is, one looks closer at his foreign policy – and finds Bill Clinton.Echoes from the Past
This revelation comes via none other than Obama supporter Roger Cohen, columnist for the International Herald Tribune. Cohen used to be a reporter during the war in Bosnia, who joined forces with other “advocacy journalists” in clamoring for an Imperial intervention in the brutal civil war. In his criticism of Hilary Clinton’s fib about a risky trip to Bosnia (some months after the war was over), earlier this year, Cohen lapsed into the usual delusional trance of rabid interventionists, claiming that the “gelatinous” Bill Clinton engaged in “circumlocutions” while the evil Serbs committed not one, but two genocides against the innocent, helpless Muslims – until finally, and belatedly, the “brilliant” Richard Holbrooke intervened and made peace.
It is worth noting that Cohen’s criticism of Hillary Clinton was also a thinly veiled endorsement of Obama:
“What’s needed, rather, is some new, creative thinking about a changed world in which authoritarianism is enjoying a renaissance and America and its allies need to work together to spread peace, prosperity, freedom, equity, security and, yes, democracy.”
How interesting. Cohen’s purpose for America is no different than that of Bush the Lesser; it’s just that Bush is doing it wrong!