Are we to be spared nothing?

I understand that diplomacy is the art of saying "Ow!" while stepping on someone else's foot. And I understand that a diplomat is an "honest gentleman sent to lie abroad for the good of his country" (Wotton). But even so, there ought to be a line somewhere.

Here's Hillary Clinton's note to the people of Serbia (right from State.gov):

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Serbia as you celebrate your National Day this February 15.

The United States and Serbia share a long history of friendship and cooperation based on mutual interest and mutual respect. Today, we stand with Serbia as you work toward European Union integration, and we will continue to support your progress until this goal becomes a reality. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship and deepening our work together in the coming year as we promote stability and prosperity in the region and around the world.

As you celebrate your National Day, know that the United States is a partner and friend. I wish all the people of Serbia and Serbians around the world a peaceful and a prosperous future.

Um, no.

You're most certainly not delighted, Madam Secretary, and it's simply offensive to pretend otherwise.

The U.S. and Serbia had a long history of friendship and cooperation. That history ended on March 23, 1999. And not because of the Serbs, either.

Likewise, there is nothing "mutual" about the current relationship between Washington and the quisling regime in Belgrade. The successive U.S. administrations have repeatedly demonstrated that only the U.S. is allowed to have interests, and only the U.S. is entitled to respect - while anyone else in the world, Serbia included, is not.

To speak of "promoting stability and prosperity" anywhere, while chiefly involved in bombing and occupying countries around the world - or seeking to overthrow their governments through astroturf "popular revolutions" and staged rebellions - surely has to be the pinnacle of cynicism. Especially since the U.S. has done all those things to Serbia over the past 13 years, making it decidedly less stable and prosperous.

If these are the actions of a "partner and friend," who needs enemies?

Serbia's Foreign Minister is in Washington today, and he will smile and nod and shake hands and pretend everything is all right. It isn't. And unlike him, I'm not afraid to say it.

As for those who are missing the whole "National Day" reference, today is the anniversary of the first Serb uprising against the Ottoman rule (1804), as well as the anniversary of Serbia's first Constitution (1835). The quisling regime celebrates it as "Statehood Day" - something they themselves know nothing of. And apparently, neither does Madam Clinton.