Hi Everyone,
NATO just picked a new General Secretary, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Rasmussen was the candidate supported by the US and opposed by Turkey and several Eastern European members of NATO. I guess the US still has some influence after all.
Turkish opposition was linked to Rasmussen's opposition to Turkish entry to the EU and the Danish cartoon issue which many politicians in Muslim countries have used a political cause celeb. But they eventually went along with Rasmussen's appointment.
Rasmussen is a member of the Venstre party. Venstre means "Left" in Danish but the party is actually Liberal. That is, they support smaller government and secular, progressive social policies. Rasmussen's foreign policy while governing Denmark has been characterized by close ties with the US. Danish troops are serving in Afghanistan and had been serving in Iraq as well. Rasmussen's appointment probably means Obama will have an ally at NATO HQ in rallying the other NATO countries to deploy more troops to Afghanistan.
Leading members of the Danish Venstre party are jockeying to replace Rasmussen now. One of the leading candidates is also named Rasmussen (no relation). If it's him, it would mean that Denmark will have three prime ministers in a row named Rasmussen none of them related to each other.
6 comments:
Does the Nato secretary do anything?
I think he collates papers and keeps the files... generally speaking.
But seriously, it's mainly a diplomatic position. There is some responsibility for moderating meetings of NATO member states' representatives. It's not like this position is seriously in the command structure of the military forces involved. But a friendly General Secretary will help Obama get other NATO members to send more troops to Afghanistan which will help the US manage our overstretched military forces that are still bogged down in Iraq and will likely need time to recover from that debacle.
(If you asked those three non-related Prime Ministers for their opinions, would that be a Rasmussen poll?)
I am not sure of the significance of the NATO secretary.
I think its's one of those things where a NATO General Secretary who opposed Obama's agenda would be a big pain in the butt and hinder Obama's plans by providing political cover for countries to say "no" to the US. But one that supports him won't be a huge noticeable help.
And the new prime minister of Denmark is....Rasmussen. Not to be confused with either of the last two Prime Ministers of Denmark who were both also named Rasmussen. This latest Rasmussen was the finance minister under the previous Rasmussen.
Danes have some real problems with using their imaginations for naming their leaders. Since 1513 every King of Denmark has been named either Christian or Frederick. There have been two Queens of Denmark in this period both named Margrethe.
Remember that scene from Being John Malkovich? When Malkovich goes into his own brain? Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich....
Rasmussen Rasmussen Rasmussen Rasmussen....
Post a Comment