Event of the last few days has catapulted the art of diplomacy to the firmament of dazzle as various stakeholders in the Syrian conflict found themselves (and their interests) diametrically removed from initial positions. Beyond the biased pontifications of various groups, somehow diplomacy resurrected from the abyss of near-neglect to the high throne of attention with minor effort from smart reaction.
For many watchers of events the gradual decline of so-called democracy and their arch apostles followed by potency of power-is-might, the high priest of democrazy, USA, since 1991 has consolidated her grip on dismantling what remain of Treaty of Westphalia and associated definition of nation-state. For Washington DC states are insignificant vehicles for advancing strategic interest of the most powerful global elites with brute violence. In the rabid hunt to secure scarce mineral resources and coral emerging markets for the highest profits, the last decade has seen US dismantle 3 countries with little to show those whose erstwhile countries are ‘liberated’.
As Syria remains in the crosshairs of potential surgical strike of US armament, a twist took place with all the trappings of unquantifiable hubris in addition to heavy dose of diplomatic inexperience. Despite domestic and international stomach-ache for another conflict, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, arrived in London, the hotspot of poodlism and remora geopolitics, to declare his next ‘sermon on Whitehall’ in contradiction to earlier unambiguous rejection of war by British Parliament. Very disrespectful of British people!
In a near state of trance this imperial inexperienced diplomat open his being to a perfect declaration of invincibility in creating and destroying scenarios without care for consequences. Above all he judged it impossible for Damascus to be rational. Sadly he not only forgot that his counterparts in Damascus, Teheran and Moscow were attentive in real-time. Like the best strikers in the world, an opponent’s error in the penalty box is a welcome gift, these savvy men of diplomacy gave US an own goal with clinical finish. It was not just an excellent finish, it turned to be rescuing stroke for US President and his pack of global elites. Another lesson in diplomacy in a highly connected world! Be mindful of your mouth especially if it is a basket.
Contrasting Mr Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Lavrov shows a sharp contrast between a gung-ho high walker and a consummate professional with many years of experience. The confidence, language, composition and nuanced of Russia’s top diplomat is stratospheric. Foreign ministers look ugly with lack of confidence, devoid of nuance and careless with words. Mr Kerry cut a lonely figure just like US among the comity of nations.
Lastly the dissimilarity struck poignantly yesterday night in Geneva press conference of the first meeting between Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov since the debacle of monumental proportion with Mr Kerry caught out again when he ‘missed’ part of a translation of his Russian speech where simply warned that ‘Diplomacy likes silence’.
In this diplomatic pugilism, Mr Lavrov couldn’t have helped to confirm that he is a master of diplomacy. Important to chancelleries around the world especially Washington DC!
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