State Visits Quotes
Giuliani had designs on the Republican Presidential nomination. However, his professional experience had little to do with foreign affairs or foreign policy. As a moderate, New York Republican, he needed to appeal to the extreme right wing base that could veto a Republican candidate. So he wrote this article and presented very articulate, well expressed versions of, right wing, conservative, ideological principles. This one took the old principles of the British Empire where the King or Queen even talking to or writing a foreign diplomat was a great honor to be reserved for those nations who followed the Empire’s desires. A more pragmatic—more democratic view is that diplomats and leaders should talk to anyone if they might be persuasive in furthering our national interest. Despite his oratorical improvement in right wing ideology, Giuliani could not get any traction with the right wing of his party and gave up his Presidential ambitions for 2012.
Bush was the head of the CIA when his agency helped Mobuto overthrow and murder pro Communist Patrice Lumumba. Bush was right about Mobuto being an anti-Communist, but he was also one of the most corrupt rulers of any country in the world and an abuser of human rights as bad as the worst communists. However, American foreign policy then supported human rights violators, dictatorships and kleptocracies—as long as the country would be stable and anti-Communist.
Rice was Secretary of State at a time when the United States was at a low point in its relations with other nations. She was a very beautiful woman who dressed beautifully and spoke eloquently but served at a time when few “deals” were made and U. S. foreign policy was under much criticism.
The prime minister had suggested that the Queen make a State Visit to Ireland. However, such an event would dominate the press and be advantageous to the majority party which was under public criticism for other matters. Queen Victoria did not want State visits or other events involving the crown to be used by the party in power as it might make the Irish feel the visit was not sincere and was simply undertaken for partisan political advantage. However, Victoria did want to try and improve relations with Ireland and suggested a visit later. She was also concerned that some right wingers of the majority party would claim that the reason she was not making the visit was for fear of adverse Irish reaction. There were constant difficulties regarding the degree of Irish autonomy and this was always a potential risk. However, the Queen would not let her position be used for political advantage and postponed the visit. This should be contrasted with the American system where the President is both head of state and head of government and often will undertake a state function for partisan advantage. There is often criticism from the other party, who would prefer the non partisanship of the English crown—until their party wins the Presidency at which time, they too use state functions for political advantage.
