Saturday August 25, 2012
By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday August 25, 2012
Consecration parade of the Saint of Unappreciated Art
Spain
Tuesday May 8, 2012
By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday May 8, 2012
Merkel readies for fight
Angela Merkel is under pressure to defeat the popular backlash against austerity to save her political skin and preserve Germany’s dominance in the eurozone.
Over the next four weeks, the German chancellor will face the fight of her political life on all fronts, domestic and European, at a moment when one slip could sink her government and tear down the European Union’s single currency.
Merkel must take the lead in trying to find an answer for the crisis in Greece, after three-fifths of Greek voters rejected EU austerity measures. Ger-man taxpayers have put $275 billion on the line to bail out countries such as Greece, and Germany’s patience is running out with countries that reject the prescribed economic medicine of debt reduction while continuing to demand the handouts.
To appease her highly taxed voters, who are worried that EU bailouts have breached Germany’s constitution, Merkel has made German economic aid conditional on all eurozone countries signing the “fiskalpakt”.
The treaty, signed by 25 EU countries, gives Brussels officials the right to block bud-gets that break spending rules which are enshrined in national constitutions, as is the case in Germany.
The measures, the chancellor assured German voters, would prevent eurozone countries going bust and leaving Ger-many holding bailout bills.
Merkel on Monday insisted Greece had to stick to the austerity program so resoundingly rejected by voters and that the reforms to the Greek economy were of “utmost importance”(Source: Vancouver Sun)
Thursday April 11, 2002
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 11, 2002
Colin Powell’s biggest test
Secretary of State Colin Powell is widely admired, not only in the United States, but abroad. His lustrous reputation as a warrior-statesman, magnified by the orchestrated buildup preceding his arrival in Jerusalem tonight, has created a modest optimism that his peacemaking mission might even produce a dramatic and satisfying conclusion, something like the crescendo in a Beethoven symphony. The expectation, though, is disconnected from the reality: Brutal facts on the ground support little beyond an appreciation of the harsh challenges faced by Powell and other would-be peacemakers.
Attitudes in the region have hardened. Wednesday’s terrorist attack on an Israeli bus has generated even more public support in Israel for its military operations in the West Bank. Those operations, in turn, will generate even more of the Palestinian rage that has resulted in suicidal terrorism. Israel has begun to pull back from some West Bank towns, in deference to U.S. demands, but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to continue “Operation Defensive Shield” until its objectives have been met.
This explosive environment almost certainly will doom conventional diplomacy. If Powell is to have any chance of success, a U.S. presence in the region will have to be far more aggressive and sustained than in the past. (AP)
Theatrics of Diplomacy: A 22-Year Reflection on ‘The Powell Circus’ and the Ongoing Dance for Peace
Reflecting on “The Powell Circus” cartoon I drew 22 years ago, titled in parody of the Family Circus, I can’t help but be reminded of the tumultuous geopolitical landscape at the time. The cartoon captured the essence of Secretary of State Colin Powell’s shuttle diplomacy across the Middle East, his hopscotch journey laden with theatrics that seemed to foretell the inevitable second Iraq war.
In 2002, the theatrics were evident, with Powell symbolically marching across capitals, playing the role of a peacemaker amid rising tensions. The news clipping attached to the cartoon painted a grim picture of the region, highlighting the hardened attitudes, terrorist attacks, and the challenges faced by Powell in his mission. It hinted at the disconnection between optimistic expectations and the harsh reality on the ground.
February 16, 2026
Fast forward to 2024, and we witness a similar diplomatic dance in the Middle East, this time featuring Anthony Blinken and UK Foreign Minister David Cameron. However, the context has shifted from the drumbeat of war to de-escalation efforts in the aftermath of a bloody seizure of Gaza. The humanitarian crisis demands a principled stance, with Cameron expressing concern and Blinken tirelessly working towards a ceasefire.
Comparing Powell’s era with the current one, we see a shift in the approach – from the theatrics of war to the urgency of peace. The article by William Raspberry in 2002 pointed out the inherent conflicts in Powell’s role, torn between representing America’s global interests and catering to domestic political considerations. The suggestion to hand off the broker’s role to a neutral entity, like a UN commission, resonates as a recurring theme.
The retrospective evaluation of Colin Powell’s legacy in light of his 2003 UN speech adds a layer of complexity. Powell’s presentation on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, built on embellished claims and misleading intelligence, became a pivotal moment undermining US credibility globally. The hindsight regret expressed by Powell himself highlights the internal conflict he faced between duty and reputation.
The Guardian: Colin Powell’s UN speech: a decisive moment in undermining US credibility
In the end, Powell’s life, like his infamous UN speech, is marked by contradictions and conflicts. The cartoon, drawn with a sense of bemusement in 2002, now stands as a snapshot of an era where geopolitical theatrics and conflicting interests played out on the world stage. The echoes of those theatrics continue, reminding us of the challenges in navigating the complexities of international relations and the lasting impact of decisions made in the pursuit of peace and power. (Graeme MacKay – Feb 18, 2024)