Ping-Pong Shuttlecock Hot Dog Diplomacy
“Hot dog” diplomacy is getting an upgrade – I mentioned it as an afterthought in the previous post, but it really deserves some unfettered attention of its own.
The idea, per se, is not a bad one.
Ping-pong diplomacy played a role in the US-China thaw in the 1970s under President Nixon (see, Lefties, Nixon shouldn’t only be remembered for Watergate…), although it’s successor shuttlecock diplomacy recently suffered a pretty severe setback when Iran refused entry to the US badminton team that had been scheduled to play in an Iranian tournament as part of a goodwill program.
That was a long sentence.
So, President Obama is attempting to resurrect this type of softer-than-soft diplomacy with the “hot dog” variant.
Y’know, invite overseas representatives of the mad mullahs to US embassies to share ‘dogs and beers on July 4. Because, Lord knows, they’ll jump at the chance to celebrate the birthday of the Great Satan.
Still, it’s a far better attempt than trying to win over the Middle East by hosting gay pride parties at US embassies. The genius behind that idea should be (but doubtless hasn’t been) rewarded with a nice, swift kick to the curb.
What comes next? Does Iran return the favor by hosting a stone the infidel/adulterer/random female party?
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June 23rd, 2009 at 14:01
The word “naive” falls short.
June 23rd, 2009 at 15:03
Obama appears to be taking a page from one of your great leaders, Neville Chamberlin, and I’m sure under his glorious leadership we will have “peace in our time”.
June 23rd, 2009 at 15:50
Egad, I’m ashamed to even think about Neville Chamberlains’ epic ineptitude.
Thank you for rubbing it in, Ron.
June 23rd, 2009 at 17:38
Good article. The Neville Chaimberlain similarity is certainly accurate as applied to the Obmamalaise.
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