Is Switzerland Like Sudan?

They both start with the letter S, if that helps.

The answer all very simply is no. One is a small country that makes chocolate, watches, is heavily militarized and offers secret bank accounts. The other is a big mess with next to zero contribution to human civilisation, is heavily militarized, is run by President Bashir , (any moment now to be indicted for genocide in Darfur), and has harboured Bin Laden in the past.

This is then begs the question: why is the US treating Switzerland as if it were harbouring terrorists? Why are Obama’s little helpers hell-bent on getting the Swiss to commit national economic suicide by doing away with their banking secrecy laws just so that Obama can look even more like the Messiah. Jesus kicked out the money changers from the temple and Obama is trying to kick out bankers (modern day money changers) out of existence. Vilifying his own American bankers is his problem. But having a go at Swiss bankers reeks of bullying and hypocrisy. It is also none of his business.

Banking secrecy is part of Swiss law, so in effect Obama wants the Swiss to change their laws for him. You try telling Americans to change their laws so that Hershey bars are outlawed and replaced by Lindt and Sprüngli chocolate bars. I am sure the Swiss can make a very valid argument that Hershey’s is an affront to the human palate. The Americans cannot yield, and that’s only over chocolate. What about if the Swiss asked the Americans to repeal their laws (unique in the world) that Americans must pay taxes over all their income earned throughout the world, no matter where they live. How will America respond? In the negative, I would imagine.

I am a big fan of the US. I may not be a fan of Obama, with his doctrinaire goody-two-shoes attitude and crypto-socialist credentials. It doesn’t help that I don’t like the Democrats. But I love America for having a free system that can pick someone like Obama who is black, his only unique political contribution. In its worst crisis, America managed to reinvent itself, something which cannot be said for our dull and staid politics here in Europe where nothing new ever happens.

It's Switzerland to you and me, but you trying telling that to Obama. He thinks it's the Bora Bora mountains despite what you, I or even Heidi may say. The new Prez may be great at public speaking, but he's crap at geography...

That is why I ask Obama not to go down the populist route of alienating friends just to score points at home. Please Obama, get your house in order first before lecturing to others. It is American mortgages that brought the financial world to its knees, not Swiss ones.

Switzerland is not Sudan. He can bomb the crap out of the latter and he’ll get my backing, but Switzerland is (on the whole) an admirably law abiding nation whose only fault it seems is that offers American people money with options.  Americans get taxed just for getting out of  bed, and may be in a desperate attempt for legal yield were forced to turn to such great American financial solution providers like Madoff. Just remember, Barack, that Madoff and Stanford will have caused more damage on personal level to everyday Americans than terrorism ever  did. And they were not Swiss.

© Sameh El-Shahat 2009