It's the Northern Ireland protocol, let's not show ourselves to be stupid

The British government has badly mis-calculated, its foreign policy. It has allowed itself to be sidelined by Brexit. It has given way to the clamour of a substantial minority of the British public for their nation to act with complete independence when it is not possible to do so. Brexit is a severe diplomatic problem. The UK has upset the European Union, China and the USA. Brexit was always a stupid idea which will not have any long term benefit for our country. 

There is no point upsetting the US by not implementing the Northern Ireland protocol in its entirety. The US helped Britain to organise the peace in the province. It is not just the US president who supports the protocol but both sides of Congress too. Equally, there is no point in upsetting the EU over this issue. Britain could end up friendless, diminished and powerless to influence world events, and this would be a great shame.

Citizens who truly support their country should see the need not to upset their best friends. They should also be realistic about what their country can and cannot do. Britain is no longer a world power that can act alone. It needs allies and friends to work with. It should have been glad to share its sovereignty with its closest neighbours in Europe. We need to do this for our economy, our peace and security and to manage the climate crisis. One day the electorate of Britain will see that Brexit was a mistake. If we offend our neighbours they might not let us rejoin the club. We also upset the US at our peril, it is time for a change of attitude. Britain is a much better country when it gets involved with and co-operates with its greatest friends.

Afghanistan and Global Britain

 The British failed to conquer Afghanistan, so did the Russians and now the Americans. There are some lessons to be learnt here. It is clear that the Taliban were able to  to bide their time, and were able to take conquer Afghanistan not by just the use of force, but with guile, diplomacy and political nous. They must also, have enjoyed popular support. They fooled the Americans who initially supported them when they fought against the Russian invasion in the 1990s. The Americans gave them modern arms and plenty of money. They then turned the tables on the Americans who deposed them from power after 9/11. The might of America has been defeated and American sovereignty has been diminished after an humiliating defeat. Britain tagged along with the American invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11: it hardly had a choice as American sovereignty is much more powerful than British sovereignty.

When America decided to pull out Britain had no choice but to follow. Britain is now dependent upon America to secure Kabul Airport so that British citizens can be evacuated along with some but not all of the Afghanis who helped the British cause. It should be noted that France and Germany and other  Western states are able, with the help of the Americans, to  evacuate their citizens without sending troops. The British contingent of troops are insufficient to secure the Airport alone. It is a sad fact that Britain cannot act alone to save anyone if the Taliban insist on taking back the Airport. Real Politics have hit Britain in the face  to show the British people that "Global Britain" is an illusion and absolute sovereignty is another illusion.

In the British parliament, yesterday , the government came in for intense criticism from not doing enough, but Britain has neither the power or influence to alter the decision to retreat: but what could it do? The British government was condemned for doing nothing even though it was virtually powerless to act alone. The whole situation is a national embarrassment but the British government is not solely to blame for this. However, many countries  will now be smiling at Britain's chagrin and some will be sneering at Britain: schadenfreude now meets realpolitik.

It was even suggested in Parliament that Britain should intervene militarily where America left off, and that some multi-national force should be organised by Britain without American support. This is "pie in the sky". Who will support Britain? Germany, France , Italy and Spain, but after the 2016 referendum that is wishful thinking. Who will join Britain in a military pact, when it reneges on its international commitments over the Northern Ireland protocol? Lives could be lost again for nothing the stakes are much higher. 

Britain has also decided to cut its foreign aid budget but now this must be reversed, the only influence we have left now is  Money.

It is time for the British people to wake up to the fact that the UK is no longer a world power and has not been since before the Second World War. Our future lies with Europe,  as the only way we can influence world events is by co-operating with France and Germany. We will have to share our sovereignty with Europe again to regain influence with the US. "Global Britain"  was just an empty slogan. Sooner or later, the public will recognise this and their political parties will have to change tack and develop a new policy.