AFD/Germany: JD Vance- Hillbilly Without The Elegy
JD Vance represented the United States at the Munich Security Conference this month. For those who do not claim to be foreign policy gurus and have no desire to be, the Munich Conference is the most important meeting on global affairs held annually. It has been an institution for 40 years. All of the major powers send high ranking governmental officials and they are joined by interested parties from think tanks, academia and the non profit world. Journalists roam the hallways searching for scoops. It is a big deal and many leaders have used the forum to make major policy announcements. I watched Mr Vance’s speech and also read the transcript. It will not go down in history as one of America’s finer moments on the world stage. Frankly, it was embarrassing, displaying an aggressive ignorance of history, a disrespect for our existing allies and a disturbing flirtation with autocratic parties and states. The speech basically rejects our history of security alliances with western Europe and was condescending to the European power structure that has managed its affairs since WWII. Vance seemed more comfortable with a possible US-Russia partnership than a continuance of our 75 year friendship with Europe. Disappointing, but not unexpected!
Mr Vance also explicitly expressed an openness to far right wing parties ascending to power in Europe. Any fair reading of Trump’s off the cuff musings and Vance’s diatribe against traditional political elites in western Europe confirms that NATO is DONE! No official withdrawal, but that appears to be the reality. It is hard to imagine Trump or Vance abiding by Article 5 of the NATO Treaty if Russia invaded NATO members Latvia, Estonia or Lithuania. Not going to happen- Mr Putin will take note. But people ask me- Bill isn’t it true the Europeans aren’t pulling their weight on defence spending and isn’t Mr Vance an incisive thinker with a fancy Yale law degree. Regarding Mr Vance, I have listened to him closely the past year and I am unimpressed. His rhetoric is a collection of half baked bromides focused on making the MAGA base happy. Ivy League lawyers underwhelm me- I have known many over the years! His “anti elitism” is grating. He wrote Hillbilly Elegy some years back. Elegy means “On Reflection.” When it comes to foreign policy and Vice President Vance we can delete the “Elegy” and double down on “Hillbilly.” I don't mean that as compliment.
Bill, why the negativity? Get with the program! NO! Vance went to Munich and lectured the representatives from the EU and NATO on the lack of free speech in their countries. He charges them with being anti- democracy and opponents of free speech. Not a word about Putin’s crackdown on dissent, elimination of civil society, destruction of a free press and invasion of a sovereign neighbour. Instead he criticises the mainstream German political parties for its firewall- the agreement not to enter into a government coalition with the AFD, the extremist right wing party moving up in the polls. Vance then refused to meet with the Social Democratic German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, but found time to break bread with Alice Weidel, the leader of AFD and their candidate for Chancellor. It amounted to a de facto endorsement of AFD in the upcoming election. It was a blatant attempt at election interference and wholly consistent with Elon Musk’s repeated tweets on “X” supporting AFD as the “only“ party that can save Germany. Vance argued that a party receiving 20% of the vote must be considered for inclusion in the governing coalition. I wonder if he would take the same position if the party was the Muslim Brotherhood? I doubt it. HYPOCRITE!
But, you query, what is the problem with AFD? Aren’t they just some conservative dudes who are opposed to liberal immigration policies? Wrong! First of all, AFD is Moscow friendly and perhaps in Putin’s pocket. AFD has recognised Crimea as part of Russia. AFD has opposed the sanctions imposed on Russia because of their illegal invasion of Ukraine. AFD leaders make regular pilgrimages to Moscow and are advocates of closer economic ties with Russia and have demanded an end to “confrontation” with Russia. This pro Russian bias is supplemented by an overt Anti- Americanism. They openly express skepticism about Germany’s relationship with the United States and criticise NATO because it is “dominated” by the United States. Alice Weidel, the party Chairperson says “US interests in Germany are demonstrably opposed to German’s security interests.” AFD participation in Germany’s national government would be a strategic defeat for the United States. Geez- what could go possibly wrong with a pro Russian anti- American party in Germany’s national government. Plenty -Mr Vance, Mr Musk and their boss haven’t got the memo.
AFD also has a Neo Nazi component in its ranks. Ms Weidel says the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin is an unfortunate reflection of Germanys “cult of guilt” regarding WWII and the treatment of the Jews. Multiple AFD leaders have made public statements minimising Nazi war crimes. Bjorn Hocke, a senior AFD leader called the Holocaust Museum a “monument of shame” and advocated for a “180 degree turn” in Germany’s remembrance culture. A former co-chair of the party described the Nazi era as a “speck of poop” in more than 1000 years of successful German history. Many AFD members are on the government watch list because they have actively engaged in extremist plots to overthrow the government. The “firewall” is appropriate because it protects German democracy from those who would abandon it at the first opportunity. AFD is poison and the Vance/Musk love affair with these people is evidence of very poor judgement. AFD- friends of Putin, fans of Nazis- let’s go with them! UNWISE!!!
Instead, we should listen to Josef Schuster, the Director of Germany’s main Jewish organisation.
“It must concern all of us that a fifth of German voters are prepared to cast their ballots for party that is at least partly very right wing extremist, that openly seeks linguistic and ideological links to right wing radicalism and neo-Nazism. They play on people’s fears and only offer them ostensible solutions.”
I am deeply concerned that the Vice President of the United States, the world’s richest man and new best friend of President Trump are prepared to jump into bed with these dangerous people. It is a sea change in American policy. It is disturbing and nauseating- and a mistake of historic proportions if they continue down this path. Instead, stick with what got us here. Proudly endorse democrats and the rule of law. Keep up the pressure on Europe to spend more on defence, but don’t throw away 75 years of unprecedented peace and prosperity in Europe in the interim. The European Union is a stable friend and NATO is a guarantor of the peace. Strengthen those institutions and improve those ties- discarding them is foolhardy.
