The terrifying bloody wash-back from the continuing folly of weak and often aimless US and European foreign policy finally arrived at the feet of ordinary Belgians today. Do not dare to suggest to the relatives of the innocents slain by the abomination that is IS that the arbitrary, aggressive and ill considered approach of Washington underpinned by the largely supine passivity of the EU towards Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya had nothing to do with their kins heartless slaughter.  As I have said before, we did not create IS but we did give them a place to breathe, a space to grow and the opportunity to 'cry havoc'. The White House and European Governance should be ashamed of itself.  

The subsequent questions asked today by the students I talked to are indicative of young people that are genuinely worried and angry, showing little trust in the security services and the political elite. What can we do? How can we protect ourselves? Where will they strike next? Didn't we know this was going to happen? No one is pretending that these seemingly straightforward and reasonable questions are easy to address, but they should not go unanswered just because they require us to face some uncomfortable truths and decisions. Nor should it deflect us from considering honestly, Why this is happening? since at least if we start with this enquiry it gives us a chance to stem this continuing horror show.

What won't help at all is continuing to pour even more money and resources into the security apparatus. They will ask for it, even demand it but we must resist since this will not ultimately provide us with one additional scintilla of protection but it will add to the growing envelopment of the security state and give unwelcome solace to our foes. Also, what will not help is a repeat of the recent self congratulatory nonsense uttered by this nation's leadership on the capture of the terrorist leader Salah Abdeslam. It was hubristic then, it just sounds plain stupid now. Finally, what won't help is further utterances of support from Obama, Cameron and Hollande without the actions to back up their increasingly hollow sounding words.   

So, firstly, what will help is the European Union starting to act like a Union by sharing intelligence openly and willingly with support from the 'big gathers of data' - the NSA and GCHQ. This does not require more money it requires a change of attitude.  Secondly, that the EU grows up and starts to accept responsibility for controlling our borders regardless of the political 'soft shoe shuffle' that continues in Berlin, Ankara and Athens. These decisions do not need more money they need a change of attitude as they should have little to do with the domestic personal politics of Merkel or Erdogan, or the artificial legacy of Obama and everything to do with the well-being of the community we live in, otherwise, will the last person in the EU please turn the light out. 

Thirdly, crucially we must not duck away from the need for a considered, well funded and resourced UN led mission to remove IS from the Middle East. This does need more money and a change of attitude because the time for rhetoric is past - the innocent blood on the streets of Brussels is clear evidence that enough is enough.

Written with deep respect for the people of and in Brussels who died today...

KK        

In today's life our senses are being continually bombarded by messaging - commercial, political and personal; keeping us up to date with the latest 'essential' developments in our rolling news world.  Moreover, due to these technological communication advancements the box on your desk, the screen upon your lap and the phone in your hand can not only allow others to keep you 'onside' but offers you unfettered access to 'knowing everything about anything'. This is a far cry from the 'bad old days' when information was just a possession and a weapon for the wealthy, the godly and the well connected. We are all so well connected now! We are finally free from ignorance!  Are we?

I ask this question since with all this freedom of information available to us why are we still no better at identifying the charlatans in our society? Why are we still so prone to disguise, distraction and deceit? Why is our life still being successfully polluted by propaganda and hubris? In other words, paraphrasing Arnold Toynbee, 'Why is the human race's prospects of survival considerably better when we were defenceless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenceless against ourselves'? My example of this dilemma comes in the shape of Uncle Sam's ongoing, increasingly puerile political debate over the present 'State of the Union'.  

Wedged between the acclamation of Clinton's proclamation that, 'we are still a great nation' and Trump's more individualistic hubris, 'I will make the nation great again' are some interesting truths. Since the late 1970's there has been no real improvement in income for lower middle and working class Americans - over 35 years - yet the most astonishingly wealthy in the World still inhabit the US. As we are now aware the richest 1 percent in the United States now own more additional income than the bottom 90 percent. Moreover, the average American worker now 'needs to work more than a month to earn what a CEO earns in one hour'.

In welfare even taking account of the gradual but restricted effect of Obama's much proclaimed health legislation 48 million Americans still have NO health care provision. But don't worry only 17% of American children are medically obese and only over a THIRD of all young Americans clinically overweight. In education the US is also growing as one of only three nations - the other two are Turkey and Israel - that spends more on schooling in rich well developed neighbourhoods than in the poor urban areas. While housing has become the most obvious sign of this growing poverty and inequality in this super, super rich nation as a quarter of the nation spend more than half their income on keeping a roof over their head as rents continue to soar while house prices in many areas of the nation are falling (the low paid cannot obtain mortgages). Consequently, over 23% of home owners owe more than their property is worth but only 13.4% of the population are now designated 'home owners'.

Some other interesting 'truths', the nation continues to be in debt to the tune of $19 trn and growing, paying to date around 2.4trn in interest. This is the same nation that spends annually, approximately, $598 bn defending this 'land of the free'. I mention all this because although this information is readily and freely available to all many still believe that Obama saved the US from the extremes of the 2008 financial crash. Well, as we can read at least the wealthy were 'saved'. Many still believe that Clinton will provide an even 'better place' where we can offer 'more love and kindness', and I'm sure that will be true for the reducing number of Americans that have a secure well paid job that allows them the 'luxury' of having a roof over their heads, food in their belly and decent clothes on their back all at the same time.(Homelessness officially sits at around 600k if you ignore the growing number of young Americans sleeping on the sofa of a friends, while evictions continue to rise sharply, in Georgia last year over 200k notices were issued). Finally, increasingly, many believe that 'Donald Duck' Trump can just as in Disney World magic the US back to a 'land of plenty' for all. In response I have some very disturbing news, the US was never the land of plenty for all in the first place and as a consequence I think Peter Pan's 'Neverland' seems a little nearer the mark.

But looking at the US today it does seem better to believe in the political fairy stories that Obama reshapes, that Clinton recalls and Trump resells than trying to make sense of the 'truth'. For in reality, the US and the developed world are all drowning in a sea of information but just like drinking water knowledge is becoming, increasingly, a very scarce commodity. Otherwise, more would be realising that our present economic and political system is no longer fit for purpose, and we cannot continue to pretend, deny or hid from that particular truth and expect to survive.

Next week: more from the 'Dream Factory' that is Washington

By the way as a gentle reminder:

MASTER IN AMERICAN STUDIES presents:
 
 
THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
 
 
Following a series public lectures over the last four years concerning the United States on TUESDAY 12th APRIL we look to consider the above as Prof Ken Kennard offers his own interpretation of the candidates left standing and what this suggests about the US and what it could mean for Europe. As this is a particularly contentious and combative process this year expect the lecture to reflect this condition. As this is last public lecture to be offered by this program we hope that you can all attend.
 
This public lecture commences at 7.00pm in Auditorium A in the Blandijn, University of Gent.

ALL ARE WELCOME

KK




                   

It was no coincidence that the Republican Party - the Grand Old Party(GOP) - emerged as the embryonic nation moved its focus away from domestic expansion to industrial and commercial development(1854). Since then this broad political institution has promoted the ideas of a strong military, free market enterprise, and social conservatism (against abortion, same sex marriage, tighter gun laws). In other words, this movement sees individual liberty through the lens of commerce but understands collective responsibility - society- via a belief in traditional values that have emanated from their interpretation of Christian doctrine. This heady socio-political mixture of God and Gold has attracted a complex mixture of people from big and small business, high finance, senior military as well as millions of blue collar workers that have all 'recognised' what the United States stands for: A clear common belief/commitment that a strong united New World benefits the Rest of the World.
 
This understanding has helped etch the personalities and policies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan onto the minds and into the history books of this proud nation. This particular sense of patriotic republicanism many argue is/was the key ingredient in the nation-state's rapid advancements, achievements and subsequent pre-eminence. Moreover, entwined into this 'story of success' was and is a often unspoken understanding tacitly held that the nation's focus on material advancement whilst preserving and protecting society from the 'evils of others' was achieved thanks to an overriding White Anglo-Saxon Protestant presence and influence. This racial and religious dimension had largely sat quietly within this party for many years as segregation dictated societal norms, however, concerns began to grow within the party over the changing nature of what it was to be American as liberal reforms throughout the 1960's seemed to gain traction. The subsequent backlash to this liberal impulse seemed to stall social progress during the 80's as an icon of American Conservatism Reagan sat in the Oval Office. However, ironically the President's myopic strategy of ignoring Black America brought about his failure to recognise that the changing impressions of US society was now being led by another ethnic group - Hispanics. (Currently Black America is roughly 13% while Hispanics are around 17% of a population of 321 million).                       

The sudden appearance and growing development of the Tea Party - an offshoot of the Republican Party - throughout the 1990's with its more extreme right wing views over issues such as immigration and identity illustrated to those watching that not all was well within mainstream Republicanism, however, the arrival of the Neo Cons and G W Bush's presidency as we swung into the new century once again turned the spotlight away from one of citizenship towards more pressing matters of national security. But the pendulum of priorities soon swung back again as a visual reminder of societal change duly arrived at the White House - Obama. Since then the Republican party hierarchy who used to be dominated by an eastern establishment of corporate, pro business pragmatists have been increasingly squeezed by the growing influence of anti establishment candidates. The subsequent poor performance of Tea Party favourites Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman was more than offset by the failure of conservative moderates such as McCain and Romney to gain the Presidency. Hence, this 'collective' ineffectiveness has just further exacerbated the growing frustrations and divisions within the GOP.
 
As we waltzed into the present campaign open warfare broke-out as Eric Cantor the House Republican leader and House Speaker John Boehner were both forced from office by Tea Party pressure and accusations of being too moderate. All that this new conservative schism now needed was a leader they could rally behind and then along came two - Trump and Cruz. Consequently, the moderate conservative candidates Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie were all mowed down by the verbal outrage and anger that has been crudely but effectively articulated by Trump and Cruz as an extended representation of this continuing swing to the right by 'traditional Americans' that feel increasingly threatened and scared by societal change. Can the Republican Party in essence contain this civil war ? Surely not, no more than Cruz or Trump can be given the keys to the White House. The days of conservative moderation now seem a distant memory and with it a party nomination that is electable. Hence, the once proud GOP that gave the nation-state Lincoln, T Roosevelt, and Eisenhower has now been effectively buried by the bile that Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck finds entertaining and Trump and Cruz finds informative.                 
 
Next week - The one party state that is now America !
 

KK


                     

As numerous students and observers of the US will know at end of World War Two an American Diplomat based in Moscow - George Kennan - sent a personal appraisal to the State Department of Russian conditions, intentions and recommended 'containment' as Washington's response. This influential but controversial communication was subsequently labelled the Long Telegram. I only mention this because as I continue my running appraisal of the Presidential elections - with the added dash of delusions of grandeur - I thought I would scribe a long telegram back to the US concerning my personal response to the nightly serial entitled - The Greatest Show on Earth (The US primaries). So...
 
Dear Washington, I wish to share with you some of my growing concerns as I view your nation's current soap opera - in the blue corner it seems much has gone as the Democrat Party had 'planned it', Hilary Clinton thanks to party support, an extremely large budget and consistently high support from Black America has managed to take a commanding delegate lead over Bernie Sanders. The fact that the introduction of super delegates into the Democrat convention process (see previous blog) almost guaranteed that the Party's favoured candidate would take the prize anyway has been largely, quietly and conveniently forgotten by most but what Sanders presence has brought is the allusion of legitimacy - a 'genuine' fight between two political views - this touch of authenticity was always going to be important for Clinton since she has been seen by many for far too long as a 'shoe in' for the Democrats. However, in large part it has seemed from afar that the political rivalry between these two candidates has been feisty at times but mainly measured and respectful - an approach most Europeans would recognise and welcome - but I get the sense that if Clinton was not feeling secure in her nomination then the approach to Sanders would have been a little more 'robust'.
 
In the red corner the reverse seems true, the Republican contest between Trump, Cruz and Rubio - putting aside all of the other candidate casualties -  has been venal. The language, style and approach by the GOP nominees has been nothing short of disgraceful, turning many of the TV debates into a circus routine full of bear-baters and clowns. The personal and abusive attacks offered by these three political acrobats has undoubtedly filled the seats and entertained the viewers but at what cost? How does this sort of 'political yobbishness' benefit the voters, the Republicans, the US or that little thing called democracy?  
 
With Trump controversially continuing to head the delegate count it is clear that the Republican Party have lost the plot. Sorry, have they ever understood the plot? Even Mitch McConnell(Leader of the Senate) and Paul Ryan (Leader of the House) both seasoned, respected, and experienced senior politicians  have failed to hide their deep loathing for 'their' current front runner. The party's response to the maverick that is the Donald has just further illustrated to many in Europe how split the Republicans are as a political grouping and how fractured American society has become. Of course, we can all welcome notions of free speech and the right to test the veracity of a candidates position but it seems from across the sea that this testing process has lost all sense of proportion, sinking down to the lowest common denominator. How easy will it be for anyone outside let alone inside the US to take seriously the Republican nomination after this debased contest ?
 
Now, if you - Washington - thinks that this writer is taking a rather too lofty position please remember that the considerations that you are presently engaged in will eventually produce a new Commander in Chief of the biggest military power in the World (you spend more on defence then the next eleven nations put together). And if anyone on 'the Hill' wonders what this has got to do with us strange Europeans then I would gently remind you that we are paying an increasingly huge price for the last time you 'voted in' -  care of the US Supreme Court - a President who knew how to start a reckless war without understanding how to stop it  - G. W. Bush and Iraq.
 
Therefore, writing as a critical friend of the US, which many Europeans are, can you please put a halt to this political charade that is at present amusing a few, annoying some and increasingly worrying many and get back to the fact that the US Presidency is a serious job for a serious politician and not an opportunity or a platform for the political equivalent of Coco the Clown to perform verbal, baseless acrobatics.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Bemused of Belgium. KK