As you know, I'm more into books (and words) than into world politics which is why I was reminded of Mrs Noah, the wife of Noah Webster, the American lexicographer who compiled the American dictionary of the English language, now known as Webster's Dictionary.
She is said to have once accidentally walked into a room and found her husband kissing the maid. 'Noah!' she exclaimed, 'I'm surprised.' Noah, ever the verbalist, was nonplussed. 'No, my dear', he corrected. 'It is I who am surprised. You are astonished'.
As I sat watching the verbal ambush unfold inside the White House, I was neither surprised nor astonished, but I still mumbled an unbelieving "WTF!" at the ferocity of this public pummelling of a friend as if he were an enemy, all designed so that the president of the United States can make a deal with his friend Putin, dictator of Russia, on Russia's terms.
This has been the grimmest day in the history of American diplomacy, and gave the lie to any claim that this administration's policy is driven by any strategic effort to advance the interests of the United States.
Remember when only days earlier, Trump had replied 'what does that mean?' when asked if he would discuss AUKUS with the visiting U.K. prime minister? Just weeks before, Australia had made its first $500 million payment to the US under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.
Let's hope our people in Treasury recorded it correctly as "our donation towards America's military-industrial complex" because I doubt we'll get anything for our money. Who needs enemies with friends like that?
