US Vice President Vance Slams the European Elites Face-to-Face! By Richard Miller (London)
US vice president J. D. Vance ripped into the Euro-elites at the Munich security conference, in a speech delivered face-to-face to them. And their lack of clapping indicted that they did not like it when Vance said that Europe is obsessed with supposed external threats, but is morally lost and does not even know what it is defending any more. The crack down on liberties such as arresting Christians for silent prayer (near abortion clinics), to cancelling elections, are examples Vance said. This was a continent at war with its own people. As Vance said; "If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor for that matter is there anything you can do for the American people."
"How many times must we suffer these appalling setbacks before we change course and take our shared civilisation in a new direction?"
"In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat," the Vice President Vance said: "I'd ask my European friends to have some perspective. You can believe it's wrong for Russia to buy social media advertisements to influence your elections. We certainly do. You can condemn it on the world stage even. But if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred-of-thousands [of dollars] of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn't very strong to begin with."
Here, in more detail are the issues Vance discussed:
Critique of Censorship Laws
Vance expressed deep concern over what he perceives as a retreat from fundamental democratic values in Europe, particularly regarding freedom of expression. He highlighted specific incidents to underscore his point:
United Kingdom: Vance referenced the case of Adam Smith Conner, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and Army veteran, who was charged for silently praying near an abortion clinic. Conner was found guilty under the UK's buffer zone law, which criminalizes actions, including silent prayer, that could influence a woman's decision to have an abortion within a certain distance from clinics.
Scotland: He pointed out that Scottish officials distributed letters to residents within "safe access zones," warning that even private prayer within their own homes might constitute a legal violation.
Romania: Vance criticized the annulment of presidential election results over allegations of Russian disinformation, suggesting that such actions undermine democratic principles.
Concerns Over Mass Immigration
Addressing immigration, Vance argued that Europe's policies have led to significant demographic shifts and increased security concerns. He cited a recent incident in Munich where an Afghan national drove a car into a crowd, injuring at least 30 people, as an example of the consequences of current immigration policies.
European Leaders' Reactions
The speech elicited strong reactions from European officials:
Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister, labeled Vance's comments as "unacceptable" emphasizing that internal policies are sovereign matters.
Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief, suggested that Vance's remarks indicated the U.S. was "trying to pick a fight" with Europe, highlighting the potential strain on transatlantic relations.
Friedrich Merz, a prominent German politician, accused the U.S. of interfering in European affairs, reflecting the depth of the diplomatic rift.
Vance's address, focusing on internal European issues rather than external threats like the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has raised questions about the future of U.S.-Europe relations. It suggests a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities, emphasizing domestic governance issues over traditional security alliances, which is long overdue.
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