President Obama today affirmed American neutrality in the dispute between Argentina and England over the Falkland Islands. In the process, he made clear that the “special relationship” between the UK and the United States is not very special.
Obama’s comments were made during a speech in Cartagena, Colombia, at the Summit of the Americas. It was delivered in English, but Obama chose to refer to the disputed islands by their Spanish name the Malvinas. Argentina has insisted that the islands should always be referred to as “the Malvinas,” while the British have been adamant about calling them “the Falklands.” Obama’s choice of Malvinas might have been seen as a slap at the UK. Instead of feeling slapped, though, the British might be amused: He called them “the Maldives.”
The Maldives are a group of Islands off the coast of India, half a world away from the Falklands. The story for people who enjoy presidential gaffes is that Obama got the wrong islands in the wrong ocean, but because Obama is so clearly brilliant, we’ll just file this away as an anomaly, along with the extra states. The real story is that he wanted to call them “the Malvinas” in the first place. It puts the British on notice that if push comes to shove, they might expect us to be as neutral as France.
I agree with the quote. The big deal to me isn’t the Maldives vs. Malvinas gaffe (although it is unbelievable that our president would actually make that mistake), it is the fact that he isn’t calling them what they are. The Falklands. As an aside, who in gods name does Obama have making his speeches/helping him with public appearances? I get the fact that he hates Great Britain, but at least fact check the Maldives/Malvinas. Sheesh.
The man is so clueless that he can’t even do a good job of being deliberately offensive…
What if Palin had said this?
What happened to TOTUS ? Maybe he needs glasses.
Or Bush? Front page news everywhere.
David – how right!
What’s with Argentina trying to stir this up all over again?
“What’s with Argentina trying to stir this up all over again?”
Simple. Oil.
We were publicly neutral the first time, while secretly providing covert assistance to each side.
We were the first of the American Republics to throw off the European empires.
CG has a good write-up on Obama’s geography
http://www.geographictravels.com/2012/04/obama-bad-at-geography-good-at.html
Argentina is about to default again, aren’t they?
Gotta find a distraction.
Do they speak Austrian in the Maldive Islands off the coast of Argentina?
Obama apparently has a really good relationship with David Cameron, PM of the UK. But I suspect he was playing to his audience;i.e. Latin American leaders and it would’ve been really awkward to say that he supports the UK. Whether he really does or not I don’t know but my guess would be that he supports the UK. Argentina is a big country and relatively important but other than stirring up trouble about the Maldives (LOL) they really aren’t a major geopolitical player but it would be a good thing to try and get this thing worked out. Just a couple of days ago (today is 4/1712)Argentian suggested it was going to retake and nationalize its energy business from Respol(sp?) a very large Spanish energy company. So the Argies aren’t trying very hard to maintain cordial relations even with their Iberian forebears.
Of course he supports the UK on this and I suspect the Argentines are only slightly less hip to Obama’s shuck and jive than are the Arab and Muslim street respectively vis a vis his support of Israel’s interests. Despite what the real in-crowd Likudist-linked American street might claim to believe, the better to pied piper the hayseed evangelicals.
“Despite what the real in-crowd Likudist-linked American street might claim to believe, the better to pied piper the hayseed evangelicals.”
This is one of the strangest sentences I have ever read.
“The big deal to me isn’t the Maldives vs. Malvinas gaffe (although it is unbelievable that our president would actually make that mistake)”
Believe it. I don’t think he is stupid, but I don’t think he is more intelligent than the average law school grad who has passed the bar exam (which is probably about 90th percentile in the general population i.e. IQ 120 on the WAIS or 630 on the SAT). My guess is that he is also lazy and does not read his briefing books, or practice his speeches.
“My guess is that he is also lazy and does not read his briefing books, or practice his speeches.”
Odd you mention this, I have also wondered if he just blows off prep work for speeches. Things like the insane gaffe with the Queen a while ago keep me scratching my head and wondering if it is him or his handlers – or like you said, maybe he is ignoring the handlers.
“Things like the insane gaffe with the Queen a while ago ” After all, he is always the smartest man in the room.
“This is one of the strangest sentences I have ever read.”
Same here.
@Michael – which gaffe? My personal favorite – giving Her Majesty an Ipod filled with his speeches – I don’t know where to begin commenting on her thoughts on that
@Bill – I was talking about this one. I still cringe every time I see it.
Rocky Mountain Says:
“… But I suspect he was playing to his audience;i.e. Latin American leaders …”
I don’t think that explains it. I suspect he has a very deep seated hatred of the U.K., and he really is siding with Argentina.
Gee, who knew. “The Smartest Man In The Room” {in his own opinion…} has hired the “Smartest Woman In The World” for his Secretary of State. What could go wrong?
Lead from behind
Egyptian Spring here Libyan Spring there Somewhere Spring next? What’s not to like?
Iran Nuclear program
The Doctor Must Step Down – Syria
Israeli plans for Iran
Brazilian oil customer
… what ever.
Sure glad we have these Smarties in charge.
@Dan – Obama is so dense that probably went right over him. Always remember the sce4ne in The Queen where “she” is telling Tony Blair all the PMs she has consoled – and he is just the latest…
Michael Kennedy gets it, the omnipotent messiah cannot get anything wrong, it wouldn’t surprise if the State Department suggested the Malvinas should change the name to the Maldives to cover for the gaffe.
And as far as his neutrality on the issue goes? Hmmm, if the guy could get something from the boy in number 10 he’ll be more than supportive, clandestinely, of course, the man’s spineless, look back what he said on the Cuban detention centre, the deployment of drones, and stuff.
The anonymous at 12.15 was Baron, sorry for the omission.
Perhaps he has given away our bases in the Maldives. That would be catastrophic because these bases cover the Persian Gulf.
It will be very easy for Iran to nuke New York City or Washington. Just send the bomb to the UN via diplomatic pouch (for NY) or via diplomatic pouch to its own embassy in DC. When they destroy DC or NYC will Obama apoligize?