Chequebook Diplomacy

The apparent eagerness of the American media to pursue a Dubya scandal -- the Rove/Plame affair -- does not absolve them of being asleep at the wheel for the last five years. In particular, contrast their eagerness to turn any Clinton or Gore fundraising into scandal with the continued existence of Ambassadorships-for-Sale under Dubya. Now, selling these postings is an old practice, but Dubya is the one who was going to restore honour and integrity to the White House.

Consider therefore an editorial from today's Times of London about recent events at the US Embassy in London:

Last evening, the American Embassy hosted a belated July 4 celebration party at the residence of the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom ... Had the businessman concerned decided to turn up, he would not, alas, have actually met the US Ambassador. There has been no such individual in place for a year since William Farrish decided to return to his homeland ... Fortunately, there will be a new ambassador, Robert Holmes Tuttle, in position very shortly.

The Times goes on to note what was clear to everyone when Tuttle was nominated -- he got it for being a donor to Dubya's political campaign:

[Washington Post] The nod for the Court of St. James's has gone to Robert Holmes Tuttle , a wealthy California automobile dealer, major GOP contributor, Bush Pioneer and Ranger, and director of presidential personnel during the Reagan administration.

It seems that just about every European country gets this treatment; recall the ice hockey credentials of the Danish Ambassador nominee. But as the Times noted, to have no Ambassador in place for the London attacks -- or for the July 4 celebrations -- is a particular diss. Special relationship indeed.