Bruce Anderson: Palmerston proves an inspiration for David Cameron
[Bruce Anderson is a British conservative political columnist.]
Politicians propose, history disposes. Many heads of government come to office believing that they can write their own agenda. They quickly learn the error of their ways.
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan always knew that foreign affairs would be crucial; they were governing in the shadow of the Cold War. Once that was won, largely thanks to them, their successors could dream of greater latitude. Francis Fukuyama proclaimed the end of history. A lot of people believed him. History had a quiet chuckle.
Shortly before becoming PM, Tony Blair had lunch with senior figures in the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). He had left his charm at home. One of his hosts described him as “suspicious of our activities and resentful of our budget”. The SIS people were dismayed. None of them would have predicted that their chief, Sir Richard Dearlove, would become a core member of Mr Blair’s sofa cabinet and that we would all lose count of Tony Blair’s wars.
While he was preparing for government, David Cameron did assume that sooner or later some unexpected foreign event would fill the horizon, and that his response might make or mar his premiership. Although he paid very little attention to Libya’s future, he devoted a serious amount of time to foreign policy. With the Afghan and Iraqi imbroglios, there was no option...
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
Politicians propose, history disposes. Many heads of government come to office believing that they can write their own agenda. They quickly learn the error of their ways.
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan always knew that foreign affairs would be crucial; they were governing in the shadow of the Cold War. Once that was won, largely thanks to them, their successors could dream of greater latitude. Francis Fukuyama proclaimed the end of history. A lot of people believed him. History had a quiet chuckle.
Shortly before becoming PM, Tony Blair had lunch with senior figures in the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). He had left his charm at home. One of his hosts described him as “suspicious of our activities and resentful of our budget”. The SIS people were dismayed. None of them would have predicted that their chief, Sir Richard Dearlove, would become a core member of Mr Blair’s sofa cabinet and that we would all lose count of Tony Blair’s wars.
While he was preparing for government, David Cameron did assume that sooner or later some unexpected foreign event would fill the horizon, and that his response might make or mar his premiership. Although he paid very little attention to Libya’s future, he devoted a serious amount of time to foreign policy. With the Afghan and Iraqi imbroglios, there was no option...