Epitaph for American hegemony

"The Jordanians and the Iraqis jointly decided they did not feel it was the best use of time”.
- reason given for cancelation of King Abdullah and PM Nuri al-Maliki's scheduled meeting with George Bush.

US Hegemony, RIP. 

Comments

[Badger]

Just for fun, check out this summary of an apparent coup threat by Sunni loyalists in the Bush administration.

[Nur al-Cubicle]

Geez. Well, at least there's no empire to feel sorrowful about. It's was the Neocon Empire anyway, where the sun never rose.

[WH]

Did Bush really say "this business about graceful exit [from Iraq] simply has no realism to it at all." He got that right.

[ProfPTJ]

Well, you can't always get what you want -- especially when you don't even try in the first place.

[mark safranski]

No. "Hegemony", whatever that means, is based on a power calculus which hasn't changed significantly in a structural sense. The snub simply means Abdullah and Maliki won't stick out their necks in when the rewards for doing so are not forthcoming.

What was the Bush administration going to do if they refused to attend ? Topple King Abdullah ? It was an entirely safe rebuff to make. Other substantive actions might not be regarded so cavalierly by the United States.

[aardvark]

The symbolism is what makes it such a telling epitaph. Bush travels to Amman, and the two leaders - who are completely dependent on American support for survival - don't consider meeting with him the "best use of their time." What, were there some good new PS3 games to try out? A new episode of Veronica Mars?

[aardvark]

Geez, Pat, 1500 words on hegemony over a one-liner? Do you not HAVE any grading or are you AVOIDING grading?

[mark safranski]

It was a symbolic gesture, I agree. Those are usually safe.

Unless, of course, you are dealing with a loon.

[Jared]

Is this scenario too paranoid: the Hadley memo is leaked in order to give Maliki an excuse to cancel his dinner date, gaining him some credibility? That is, this is what Bush wanted him to do all along?