Flo the history (and geography) guy

The US ambassador to Belgium yesterday managed to create a sizeable diplomatic incident by publicly calling the judiciary and minister of health Vandenbroucke antisemitic in a statement on twitter. This statement was perceived as deeply rude and violating diplomatic norms by meddling in the internal affairs of the kingdom of Belgium.

What is this about?

Ambassador White took issue with the investigation by the royal prosecutor's office of three men accused of performing circumcision without proper medical clearance. The American ambassador labelled this as antisemitic and said the investigation should be stopped. He also labeled the minister of health's comment that he would await the conclusion of the investigation as antisemitic (It is important to note that in Belgium officials typically avoid commenting on legal cases). When asked whether he was asking for a minister to interfere in a criminal case mister White said no, but that the case should be stopped. Raising concerns about his understanding of the separation of powers in Belgium.

The complaint leading to the criminal case was made by Moshe Friedman, a US born Antwerp resident and Rabbi. Another source of concern was video taken by a documentary crew.

A possible cause for the intervention by the US ambassador was a conversation that N-VA member of parliament Micheal Freilich had in Washington DC. This possible invitation of foreign meddling drew the anger of Sammy Mehdi, head of the Christian-democratic party, he noted that if another MP would have invited meddling by, for example, Morroco, they would have already been sacked.

What happened after the ambassador's statements

Shortly after mister White made his statement minister of foreign affairs Prêvot put out a statement condemning White's statement and summoning him for a meeting with the foreign ministry's senior diplomat today (Tuesday February 17th 2026). After this statement mister White doubled down, making the same claims again and said he would visit the men under investigation (this strange as they have been not been named as US citizens).

*reluctant sigh*

*scrolls back up*

Radio and Television Report to the American People on the Berlin Crisis July 25, 1961 The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Radio and Television Report to the American People on the Berlin Crisis July 25, 1961 The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (at Internet Archive) Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States John F. Kennedy January 20 To December 31, 1961 (at Internet Archive)

Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine illustrates Kennedy's 1961 comment. Putin has violated numerous international treaties and agreements. His Soviet-era mindset finds it impossible to understand why the West won't let him take over an independent sovereign nation.

Essentially, Putin has declared war on liberal democracies. And it's not just a symbolic or verbal war. Russia is now engaging in acts of sabotage and violence – in addition to his usual disinformation barrage – in Western countries.

Europe on high alert after suspected Moscow-linked arson and sabotage

Security services around Europe are on alert to a potential new weapon of Russia’s war – arson and sabotage – after a spate of mystery fires and attacks on infrastructure in the Baltics, Germany and the UK. When a fire broke out in Ikea in Vilnius in Lithuania this month, few passed any remarks until the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, suggested it could have been the work of a foreign saboteur. Investigators have already alleged potential Russian involvement in an arson attack in east London, an inferno that destroyed the largest shopping mall in Poland, a sabotage attempt in Bavaria in Germany and antisemitic graffiti in Paris. While there is no evidence that any of these incidents across the continent are coordinated, security services believe they could be part of an attempt by Moscow to destabilise the west, which has backed Ukraine. [ ... ] Last week, Tusk revealed Polish authorities had arrested nine people in connection with acts of sabotage allegedly committed on the orders of Russian services. He said the crimes allegedly included “beatings, arson and attempted arson” with investigators looking into whether Russia was involved in the fire in a shopping centre in Warsaw, a claim the Russian embassy described as a conspiracy theory. [ ... ] On Tuesday, the Estonian defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, in Brussels for an EU defence summit, said the country had already been the victim of Russian sabotage. “They have conducted similar operations in Estonia. They hired 10 people to attack the car of the interior minister and a journalist’s car. This is normal behaviour of Russia. We are sorry to say but we need to understand that Russia is more and more aggressive towards European countries and also Nato countries,” he said. He was referring to incidents in February when the windows of cars belonging to the interior minister, Lauri Läänemets, and a journalist were smashed. Six people were arrested shortly afterwards, including Russian nationals and dual Russian-Estonian citizens, the prosecutor said. In Germany, there are also suspicions of foreign intelligence-driven attacks in addition to a wave of cyber-attacks in 2023 by a hacker group linked to Russian intelligence.

Putin somehow expects European countries to be intimidated by his terrorism for hire tactics. He also expected Ukraine to collapse in three days.

Instead of cowering in a corner because of Putin's tactics, NATO is both stepping up its aid to Ukraine and is considering loosening its restrictions on how Ukraine can use those weapons.

France could announce sending military trainers to Ukraine soon, diplomats say

NATO Meets As Pressure Grows to Let Ukraine Hit Russia

Not every municipality actually uses it

There don't seem to be any rules for how it is used, for example my municipality mainly uses it to announce road works, instead of having an actual mailing system or post system for the municipality.

A lot of English writing countries make fun of Comic Sans as a text font

The country that has… fucking… The Hague… where war crimes get procecuted…