Lileks

James on the "Global Test":

But those weren't the big revelations. Despite Richard Holbrooke's comforting assertion that "There is no Kerry Doctrine," we heard just such a thing summed up in two potent, fatal words: Global Test.It's a restatement of the idea that adorns the bumpers of a million Volvos: "Think Globally, Act Locally." (Well, terrorists think globally and act quite locally. Ask someone who lived in lower Manhattan.) The idea assumes we have an idealistic global order devoid of self-interest, spreading a sweet, honeyed layer of goodness and grace over this benighted globe. All that stands in the way is Pox Americana.Sorry; no. The global order is rooted in selfishness, nationalism and cultural chauvinism. It's been so since the original tribe of Neanderthals threw stones at each other because some wanted to worship the sun instead of the mastodon. It will remain so until the Vulcans arrive and give us a good spanking.Did the occupation of Tibet pass the Global Test? Of course. The suppression of Myanmar dissidents, the depredations of the Taliban, the hanging of rape victims in Iran -- they all passed the Global Test, inasmuch as no one did much about it besides make sad faces.There's only one Global Test for the world community: Does something advance or confound the strength of the United States? They don't want us gone, not yet. But it would be nice if we didn't confound their objectives with our lethal toys and silly ideals. The Joker felt the same way about Batman.

Kerry is sadly mistaken if he thinks his sparkling personality and suave demeanor are going to get France or Germany to do anything. The French are not going to do anything to help us unless it aids them financially. They are the definition of a whore (A person or country-ed. considered as having compromised principles for personal gain); need weapons regardless of the potential uses? Oui! Need help building a nuclear power plant and fuel that may be converted for use in nukes? Oui, oui. Name one humanitarian cause that the French have eagerly led the way in the last 20 years.