「四問美國少數政客」系列評論之②：
面對疫情和混亂，美國少數政客在幹什麼？
■紅山客
插圖作者：唐建平
當前，美國深陷新冠疫情、經濟衰退、抗議示威三大困境。面對美國歷史上罕見的混亂局面，美國國務卿蓬佩奧等少數政客沒有把心思放在阻止疫情蔓延上，放在解決種族矛盾上，放在改善民眾生活上，而是時常跳出來搞一些令人費解的「神操作」、「神言論」。人們不禁要問：這些美國政客到底在幹什麼？
欺騙造謠、「甩鍋」他人。疫情暴發以來，美國少數政客「滿嘴跑火車」的荒謬言論，讓美國民眾深受其害。他們先是輕描淡寫地說「新冠肺炎是一種流感」、「美國感染新冠肺炎的風險非常低」，接著信誓旦旦地表示「病毒會因4月份高溫而消失」，後來又胡亂推薦羥氯喹、消毒劑等治療新冠肺炎，致使美國感染人數、病亡人數均遙遙「領先」其他國家。自知無法向本國民眾交待後，這些政客又頻頻「甩鍋」中國，大肆造謠「病毒源頭在中國」、「武漢實驗室洩漏病毒」，指責中國「隱瞞疫情」等等，以期轉移民眾注意力、轉嫁國內危機。蓬佩奧甚至將美國疫情應對不力歸咎為「不完善的中國數據」，還企圖聯合其他國家「抱團敲詐」中國。在這次疫情當中，美國少數政客不僅把撒謊習慣展現得淋漓盡致，還增加了反咬一口的強盜邏輯。
潑皮耍賴、不守誠信。目前世界上幾乎所有的頂級科學家和疾控專家，包括美國首席傳染病專家安東尼·福奇博士都承認，根據基因序列判斷，新冠病毒源於自然界，並非人工合成。但蓬佩奧等少數政客仍在喋喋不休污衊中國，已經完全不是科學推斷、合理質疑，而是赤裸裸地「硬推抹黑」了。美國政客沒有忘記往自己臉上貼金。今年2月份武漢疫情膠著之際，蓬佩奧就開始在各種場合吹噓對華撥款，從最開始撥款1億美元支持中國抗擊疫情，縮水至拿出「最多」1億美元支持中國「以及其他受影響的國家」。這些政客對中國「口惠而實不至」，卻在搶奪盟友防疫物資上毫不手軟，堪稱「現代海盜」。
踐踏道義、玩弄雙標。去年10月23日，美國眾議長佩洛西把香港暴徒當街打砸搶燒的暴力犯罪行為稱為「為香港的民主和法治進行的非暴力抗爭」，是「一道美麗的風景線」。今年5月底以來，因黑人男子喬治·弗洛伊德被「跪殺」引起大規模抗議示威仍在持續，美國當權者卻強硬警告「敢搶劫就開槍」。美國一些政客對香港警察文明克制的執法行為說三道四、橫加指責，卻要求各州州長鎮壓抗議活動時「必須變得更加強硬」、「必須抓人」、「必須追蹤他們」。這些美國政客張口閉口「自由」、「民主」、「人權」，標榜自己是「普世價值」、「國際道義」的捍衛者，卻一再犯選擇性失明、選擇性失語的「老毛病」。他們的做法是典型的「世界馳名雙重標準」，是將人類文明的道義標準踩在腳下肆意蹂躪。
煽風點火、製造麻煩。美國少數政客對本國疫情和民眾生命熟視無睹，卻熱衷於到處煽風點火，唯恐天下不亂。在涉臺問題上，明目張胆祝賀蔡英文就職，公然支持「臺獨」勢力；在涉港問題上，慫恿挑唆反中亂港勢力「暴力抗爭」，明裡暗裡為黑暴分子撐腰打氣、提供保護，還藉口全國人大通過「港區國安法」，叫囂對中國及香港特別行政區採取所謂制裁措施；在涉疆問題上，6月17日美國將所謂「2020維吾爾人權法案」籤署成法，粗暴幹涉中國內政，蓄意煽動我民族矛盾。除了給中國下套子、設絆子之外，這些政客還肆意破壞國際秩序，近些年接連操縱退出《巴黎協定》、《跨太平洋夥伴關係協定》、《伊核協議》、《中導條約》、《開放天空條約》，以及聯合國人權理事會、教科文組織和世衛組織等。這些政客的言行舉止，已經使美國的國際形象一落千丈，成為名副其實的「國際秩序破壞者」、「麻煩製造者」。
What Are U.S. Politicians Doing in Face of Domestic Epidemic and Disorder?
At present, the U.S. is in the mire of COVID-19 epidemic, economic recession and protests and demonstrations. In such an unprecedented predicament, some U.S. politicians like its Secretary of State Mike Pompeo often shocked the world with hilarious acts and rhetoric instead of focusing their attention on the epidemic prevention and control, racial tension, and people’s lives. People can’t help asking: What on earth are these politicians doing?
Shifting the blame by starting rumors.Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Americans have gravely suffered due to a few U.S. politicians』 irresponsible remarks. These politicians first brushed COVID-19 off as a flu, saying that the risk of infection in the U.S. is very low. Then they vowed solemnly that 「when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away」. After that, they arbitrarily recommended hydroxychloroquine, disinfectant, and other treatment methods. As a result, the number of confirmed cases and death in the U.S. far surpassed that of other countries. Realizing that they could not account to U.S. citizens, these politicians shifted the blame on China by starting a rumor that 「the virus was leaked from laboratories in China’s Wuhan」. They pointed their fingers at China to distract the public attention and transfer domestic crisis. Mr. Pompeo even attributed the failure in epidemic control to 「China’s incomplete data」 and even rallied other countries to blackmail China. This epidemic not only exposed thoroughly some U.S. politicians』 habit of telling lies, but also their logic as a bully.
「Playing dirty」 by breaking their promise.Almost all top scientists and disease control experts, including U.S. chief infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony S. Fauci admitted that it could be inferred from the genome sequence that the virus originated from nature rather than being synthesized. But some politicians like Pompeo still ceaselessly slander China, which is absolutely not scientific inference or justified doubt, but pure discredit. On the other hand, U.S. politicians haven’t forgotten to put feathers in their own cap. When Wuhan was under the onslaught of COVID-19 in February, he promised to support China’s anti-epidemic endeavor with USD 100 million, but then he said he would earmark 「at most」 USD 100 million for China and other countries affected by COVID-19. These politicians only pay lip services to China, but when they scramble for the epidemic control materials, they are 「modern pirates」 who are never soft-hearted on their allies.
Abandoning justice by applying double standards.On last October 23, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to the violent crimes by rioters in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as 「a non-violent struggle for democracy and rule of law」 and 「a beautiful sight to behold」. Since the end of May, the U.S. has witnessed continuous mass protests incurred by the killing of George Floyd, but the man in power issued a tough warning that 「When the looting starts, the shooting starts」. Some U.S. politicians pointed the finger and made unwarranted charges against the restrained and proper law enforcement by Hong Kong police, but required that its state governors 「be tougher」, 「arrest them」, and 「track them」. While advocating 「freedom」, 「democracy」 and 「human rights」 and flaunting themselves as the guardians of 「universal value」 and 「international justice」, these U.S. politicians repeated the same old mistakes of 「alternative blindness」 and 「alternative aphasia」. This double-standard way of behaving, which is so typical of the U.S., is nothing other than wantonly treading on the ethics of human civilization.
Making trouble by fanning the flames.Indifferent to domestic epidemic situation and people’s lives, some U.S. politicians are keen on fanning the flames. How agog are they to instigate and see chaos! On Taiwan-related issues, they blatantly congratulated on Tsai Ing-wen’s assumption of office and supported separatist forces; on Hong Kong-related issues, they instigated rioters in Hong Kong in their 「violent struggle」 by both covertly and overtly backing up and protecting them, and threatened sanctions against Chinese mainland and Hong Kong SAR on the pretext of opposing the national security law in Hong Kong adopted by National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature; on Xinjiang-related issues, the so-called 「Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020」was signed into law on June 17, which constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs and intentional incitation of ethnic conflicts.
Apart from setting traps and stumbling blocks for China, these politicians also flagrantly sabotaged international order by withdrawing from Paris Agreement, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, Iran nuclear deal and Open Skies Treaty as well as UN Human Rights Council, UNESCO and WHO. Their words and deeds have greatly tarnished the image of the U.S., making it the real 「saboteur of international order」 and 「trouble-maker」.