Where was Jack Bauer?
Where was Jack Bauer when we needed him?
A couple of days ago I tuned into CNN Live during the early evening to watch the joint session of Congress about to ratify the election results.
But within minutes cameras switched to the exterior of the Capitol Building where an unruly mob had burst through police barriers, were occupying the steps and had begun smashing windows and breaking in.
Next the corridors and rotunda were occupied by marauding thugs and soon they were in the chamber itself, property was damaged, offices ransacked with senators and members crouched on the balcony for whatever protection they could find.
A shot rang out and a demonstrator lay dying.
I waited apprehensively for the reinforcements, but they never came. I waited for the helicopters, but they never came either.
Where was Jack Bauer when he was most wanted?
The reality, of course, is that this was not the fantasy that many Americans believe they live in. It was not Disneyworld; not a land of Princes and Princesses. Those who have been only to Florida could be forgiven for being deceived.
It was a long time before the National Guard eventually appeared and restored order. Up to today a policeman and four demonstrators have lost their lives. A number of those defending the Capitol are injured.
There were reports of bombs and guns. A single automatic weapon, and scores of elected representatives could have been lying dead and injured.
All this because of a white supremacist mob, encouraged for weeks by a narcissistic and unbalanced President who was unable to accept defeat at the ballot box and who revelled in the resulting chaos.
There has been internal and international condemnation at these events which took place in a country that holds itself out as a model of democracy to other nations.
“This is not America” many have said, “and our democracy will survive”. That is certainly how we would wish it to be but, just for a moment, let us remove our Disney-tinted spectacles?
Is this really not America, or is this precisely what it is in fact? The last four years under an apology for a President has been a blot on this great nation’s history, and it will take a lot of repairing.
The United States of America has grown from its birth at a phenomenal speed. Only about 250 years old and it is a world hegemon.
Compare that with China which has a history of around 4,000 years. Or with the long history of European nations.
Really the USA is just a teenager, and at times it exhibits the same behaviours. It believes it can teach the rest of the world how to run its countries, but it has huge domestic problems of its own which it would do well to attend to first.
It is quick to stamp its feet when it can’t get its own way and tends to throw its weight around.
Perhaps it’s is now time to take stock. In a couple of weeks’ time a new President will be in office. I don’t know if he will make a good President, but he has a long and distinguished political career.
No doubt it is a relief to him that the present incumbent has indicated he will break with tradition and not attend the inauguration.
Politics aside, Joe Biden appears to be a good man. It was a relief to hear him speak after the mayhem of a couple of days ago. He was balanced, inspiring and presidential.
He will have a lot to do to lead America against the domestic challenges it faces and reinforce its position as the principal world power. He faces a China which is content to make haste slowly and which will, in just a few years, surely overtake the US economically.
Many in the west will not agree with China’s authoritarian rule, but that is how it maintains order in a huge country with 1.4 billion citizens. It is worth thinking for a moment what it would be like in a democratic USA (330 million citizens) if it grew to the size of China.
Maybe we should not be dismissive of other countries because they are not like us or rule themselves differently. None of us are perfect, and we all have issues to resolve.
Despite the USA’s “youth” it nonetheless has a reservoir of enormous talent and expertise. It wouldn’t be where it is without it.
So it has everything it needs to overcome its current problems. Let us hope that with a few years of more stable government, it will conquer those difficulties.
The signs are still promising. A few good people came through in recent days to ensure that the will of the American people came to pass, none more so than the judiciary which maintained the rule of law throughout.
It is in all of our interests that the USA thrives and prospers.
Many years ago I swore an oath to defend and uphold the constitution of the United States, and I still believe it is a constitution worth defending and a country worthy of its place at the head of the western world.
Footnote (Added 13 Jan): Seven days on the House acted in haste and, for the second time, impeached an immoderate and imprudent president. But those who watched the debate live this evening may consider that the differences of opinion expressed were but a microcosm of those the members represent. Due process has not been followed. There have been no evidential hearings by the Judiciary Committee, as it stands the evidence falls short of incitement to insurrection and a trial cannot, in any event, take place until after President Elect Biden has taken office. The danger is that this impeachment will merely serve to consolidate already divided opinions and worsen a precarious situation. A period of reflection and healing is now required. An indication from the new President that the impeachment process will not proceed to a trial in the Senate would go a considerable way towards that essential process. Better that than the nation repents at leisure.