JD Vance gave a speech to European leaders at an international conference in Munich Germany. The speech was full of misleading statements and simple outright arrogance.
“The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia. It’s not China. It’s not any external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within — the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.”
So, Russia is not the threat, but the threat is from within Europe itself. Amongst the audience were many who suffered from the yolk of Soviet oppression until the Berlin wall fell. Vances 20 minute speech was met mostly with silence. Vance talked about a person in Britain praying quietly near an abortion clinic being arrested. The reality is that protesters are not allowed within 150 yard perimeter of abortion clinics. That is to protect women going into the clinic from being harassed.
Vance talked about Romania cancelling elections. Stating that is not how democracy works. The elections were cancelled due to solid evidence that there was rushed interference.
The attendees at the conference were expecting to hear reassurances about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They got nothing. Instead, they came out of the conference worry about Trump’s Neville Chamberlain like appeasement of Putin.
German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, in his own speech, addressed Vance’s remarks, as follows.
“He speaks of the annihilation of democracy. And if I have understood him correctly, he is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes… that is not acceptable.”
Watching CBC news yesterday, I saw some of Vance’s speech. I immediately shut off the TV. I am going to have to buy a carton of Nerf balls if they still exist. Because sooner or later I’m going to throw something at the TV and bust the screen.
That’s all I got for today. Happy Flag Day. Wear the Mapleleaf with pride today.