NYC Letter: Irish Horse Hockey

EU AMBASSADOR FINDS THE POSITIVE IN KATRINA

BRUXELLES September 15, 2005 (IHT) - While the United States hesitated about whether to accept aid, it eventually decided to take it. "That is an important step in normalization," John Bruton, a former Irish prime minister, said Wednesday. "They are a big country, but they are another country just like anyone else." Realizing that made the disaster "a salutary learning experience for the U.S.," he said.

Think about Mr. Bruton's condescending blarney for a moment.

"Normalization" in the context of his remarks is diplo-speak for the rehabilitation of a wayward nation, here, the United States, to the proprieties of a community of nations, here, the EU. How disappointing for Mr. Bruton when he discovers America takes a pass on "normalizing" itself to contemporary EU norms. Mr. Bruton will also be disappointed to learn that America is not just big, which he seems to have grasped, but it is a nation unlike any other, a concept inimical to self-important bit players.

We find nothing geopolitically "salutary" about Katrina, notwithstanding Mr. Bruton's aggrandisement of Europa's modest and -- no offense -- incidental response.

Could America have managed nicely without European tents, camp beds, pumps, and generators? The correct answer is yes, very nicely. Mr. Bruton's politically correct answer is NO, of course not. We salute the genuine concern and efforts of individual Europeans, but the truth is Europa as a political entity is not prepared to give much, certainly not to the point of straining the public weal or enduring the pains of sacrifce. Europa gives what it won't much miss. And as regards America, what little Europa spares it spares with out-sized self-importance. Look, look, America! A boat-load of blankets and tea cosies! Consider it our Marshall Plan to you.

In his first 10 months as ambassador, Bruton said, it had become clear that the United States behaved like a 19th-century sovereign state for which multilateralism was "an important tool, but only one of a number of tools," in contrast to EU countries that rarely acted without consultation with their neighbors.

Leave it to an EU functionary to give "sovereign state" a prejorative taint. The distinction Mr. Bruton draws explains much of why America does much and Europa does little, why what America does moves the world and what Europa manages barely ripples. Mr. Bruton's remark is all the more ironic as bickering "multilateral" EU gropes its way toward a future located somewhere in the 19th century.

Before Mr. Bruton gives any more little talks extolling Katrina as a welcome felling of American greatness, he would do well to take the proper measure of do-little nombriliste Europa.

It shames us that a member of our bloodroot should talk so stupidly.