May 21, 2006

History

I'm currently reading Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World, by Margaret MacMillan. It's the story of the peace conference after WW I which gave us Iraq and Central Europe's borders, the Treaty of Versailles, and the short-lived League of Nations. I'm only about seven chapters into it, but I've seen an interesting parallel between then and now already.

We've been told that George W. Bush admires Woodrow Wilson as a champion of democracy, and I suppose that's not out of the question. But Wilson (according to MacMillan) was also viewed by his co-peacemakers as a single-minded man, particularly by some of the Brits. She quotes Robert Cecil, one of two British experts on the League, as follows:

"a trifle of a bully, and must be dealt with firmly though with the utmost courtesy and respect -- not a very easy combination to hit off."

It seems Mr. Bush also shares some of Wilson's less admirable characteristics.

Posted by Linkmeister at May 21, 2006 03:24 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I also read the book

McMillan's treatment of Wilson is that of a idealist with a good heart, pursuing an admiral goal. His naivite, however, was no match for the machinations of the French and the crass greed of other European states deperate to restore their past glory.

Same as Bush, yes?

Posted by: pixelshim at May 22, 2006 03:36 AM

Well, maybe. I don't see that the French or the other European powers had much to do with Iraq. That was home-grown hubris, coupled with several consecutive rationalizations for following that path.

Posted by: Linkmeister at May 22, 2006 12:12 PM