He Read Camus? He read Graham Greene?

Here, via Crooks and Liars, is an excerpt from El Presidente's speech today at the VFW convention.

Graham Greene is spinning in his grave. I've read lots of GG's books, a wonderful writer, and believe me, The Quiet American, is a cautionary tale on how American policy interests in Southeast Asia will screw our country up. If you don't want to read the book, view the movie which stars Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser, as the Quiet American. It's NOT a pro-American interventionist book or movie. I just can't believe our President's gumption in citing Graham Greene, of all people, to bolster support for this freekin' war. But, I guess, no one at the VFW has ever read Graham Greene.

Greene was always highly suspicious of American foreign policy. He was Roman Catholic, a whore-hound, with a beautiful sense of creating characters, plotting, and could be just plain fun. Those of old enough to remember "Our Man in Havana" or "Travels with My Aunt" will know. He should have won a Nobel. But he didn't. Read him and remember him.

As to our President, shame on him for citing a very good book, and a great author, that he will never understand. No matter how much he wants to allude to him. What a jerk.


The American: I'm from a country that's been in existence for less than two hundred years, in a very old world. That same fifty years ago, we were barely taken seriously as a nation, much less a great force for wisdom and decision. But suddenly now, a watch tick of history later, the world waits angrily for us to provide the answers it hasn't been able to find in fifty centuries.


UPDATE: Thursday August 23 This guy says it better than me!