From the Far Abroad

Have we callooed and callayed about The Diplomad, yet? Certainly the Style Editor, Dr. Potomac and the Ombudsman, in our various run-in's around and about Our Nation's Capital, have chortled fiendishly as we recall what this underground network of Foreign Service diplomats have posted on their Most Excellent Blog.

But really, they go from strength to strength.

First there was their wonderful neologism of "High Priest Vulture Elite", something the Style Editor much enjoyed, given her frequent contact with the HPVE in her day job.

Then there was yesterday's post on "Comma-ism", which synced so well with the thoughts of our Dr. Potomac. Allow me to insert an extract:

There is one group of singularly anti-American types who just have had the hardest time imaginable praising the events of January 30. Who are these foul anti-Americans? Has The Diplomad taught you nothing? Why the leaders of the Democratic Party of the USA, of course! The party that has become the party of the Comma-ists. You know what we mean: the types who must always insert a comma after a ritual throw-away phrase. For example: “Of course the terrorist attacks of 9/11 were horrible [Here it comes! Listen for it!] [COMMA] but US policy in the Middle East . . ." “Of course the Iraqi elections were a good thing [COMMA] but they will not resolve the serious issue of severe income inequality in East St. Louis, or the growing gender disparity in the granting of scholarships to welding schools . . .”

And today we have "Supergeritolman vs Staypuffedmarshmellowbeings: Castro Creams the EU".

We read:

Well, dear readers, guess what? El Comandante apparently has the magic diplomatic formula for dealing with the EU -- we hope to see this formula taught at the US Foreign Service Institute. It seems that when dealing with the EU, it's best to be highly insincere, in other words tell them whatever they want to hear; then make them beg to give you money; take the money; then go back on whatever nonsense you told them originally; then insult them without mercy in the most vile language you can utter; and they'll come running back with even more to give you. You don't believe The Diplomad? You say no organization or group of countries would tolerate such behavior? Oh, pititful fools! Has The Diplomad taught you nothing? We're talking about the EU, for Heaven's sake!

Well, the Ombudsman finds no surprise whatsoever within his cerebral cortex at this. Nor is he surprised at the following:

The EU, also at the urging of Spain's government "recommended" that European embassies in Havana invite neither dissidents nor Cuban officials to its national day receptions. Well, fortunately, it seems not all the Europeans are going to buy off on that recommendation: so far, at least, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia have indicated that they will continue to invite and receive dissidents.

This is indeed a cruel, dark world, where the Ombudsman cannot be surprised by such foul EU cravenness. But there is a glimmer of hope, when nations who used to have to pretend El Commandante was their fraternal comrade in the socialist struggle can tell the EU where to put it.

As the old Scotsman would, after having hoisted the back of his kilt in the general direction of Brussels: "Aye, wheer's your soft power now, you narrow-chested nyaffs, ye