Chintito
USA
versus UK
Chintito
Part of
the 7 O'clock News of BBC 3 on 11 November 2003 was titled
'The Bush-Blair Relationship' and voiced thus:
"Since
the terrorist attacks on September 11, and especially during
the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, American President
George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair have developed
a peculiar and indeed deep and 'special relationship' that
neither is willing to break despite public pressure to do
so.
"The
importance of Blair in the relationship became even clearer
when other equally powerful nations - France and Germany -
opposed the war on Iraq. Since the end of the Second World
War, Britain has been militarily and strategically important
for the US housing as it does several airbases which serve
as America's foothold to Europe, the Middle East and beyond."
There
you go! This column was always right about the goings on 'special
relationship' as insiders like BBC will tell you. In fact,
since nine-eleven the two governments have been behaving more
like smitten lovers and have been unable to stay away from
each other. Unfortunately a big chunk of water separates the
warmly rapport between the leaders of two the most powerful
nations. Fortunately for the rest of the world though, the
lovey-dovey affair does not have the approval of their people,
their electorate as they would want us to say.
"In
a poll executed by The Times (London), only 40% of those questioned
believed that the UK-US special relationship was positive."
That leaves a good 60%, the majority, who thought otherwise.
While
the two may be agreeing on everything from North Korea to
Iran, from Iraqi puppets to Guantanamo Bay torture there is
a definite discord by their governments with reference to
Bangladesh.
Here is
a VOA report published on 30 March 2005. The internet version
reads like this:
(Heading)
"US HR Report Expresses Concerns on Human Rights in Bangladesh
by Amir Khasru from Dhaka.
(Body)
"In a recent report on Supporting Human Rights and Democracy
by US State Department deep concerns have been expressed on
human rights situation in Bangladesh. The report, which was
presented to US Congress, said that in recent years extra
judicial killings have taken place in Bangladesh. It also
alleged that the government has failed in investigating political
killings in Bangladesh. It also mentions continuous corruption
and torture by Bangladeshi police. It says that political
conflicts have now become normal in Bangladesh. US government
wants to see democracy prevails in Bangladesh, democratic
rights are maintained, (and) freedom of religion is honoured."
Alarming
report that; and deshiyo ijjat was in total disarray
even by conservative opinion.
There
was however immediate solace and perhaps even an occasion
to put out our chest, as America's best friend the UK was
in total disagreement with that report, or so it would seem.
Within
a week of the VOA dispatch the Daily Star published
a UNB (Dhaka) report on April 05, 2005
(Heading)
"UK praises improvement of law, order (Body) "The
British government has highly appreciated the improvement
of the law and order situation in Bangladesh, describing it
as a tremendous success of the present government under the
leadership of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
"The
appreciation was conveyed by British High Commissioner in
Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury when he called on the prime minister
at her office yesterday.
"Briefing
newsmen after the meeting, officials said the diplomat also
rated highly the measures and success so far achieved in the
investigation into the killing of former finance minister
Shah AMS Kibria.
"The
British government hopes that the transparent measures of
the present government will help the authorities bring the
culprits to book," the Bangladeshi-born British envoy
was quoted as saying.
"During
the meeting, cooperation in various fields, including British
assistance for training Bangladesh policemen, also came up
for discussion.
"The
prime minister and the high commissioner also discussed other
matters of bilateral interest and issues of common concern."
The two
conflicting reports can hardly reflect George W Bush's conviction
"We've got no better friend in the world than Great Britain".
Friends in world politics usually take cue from one another.
It's unbelievable that the USA can goof up on the simple issue
of the situation in present day Bangladesh.
The US
report somewhat reflects what is presented by our newspapers
on a day-to-day basis. In the interest of Bangladesh we sure
hope the British High Commissioner knows something that our
newspapers do not.
In stretching
our interest further we need the two powerful nations to agree
on Bangladesh, not differ on the vital issue of law and order.
As a developing 'developing' country all we can do is worry.
Copyright
(R) thedailystar.net 2005
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