On Academic Elephant’s superb blog, I found a small post that resonated with me: The tendency of the mainstream media to belittle U.S. officials when they visit small countries.

There are all kinds of valid reasons to criticize them, and from many angles. But to savage Donald Rumsfeld because he paid a visit to distant Mongolia or distant Paraguay is absolutely despicable. The news media has mocked such visits, written them off as proof that Rumsfeld can’t get any other friends, and insulted the countries themselves and their customs. Elephant notes that the media focused almost exclusively on a horse gift the Mongolians presented to Rumsfeld. Well, yes. And then they ignored the real gist of the meeting which was trade and security. I noted how the media focused on a claque of protestors in Paraguay who were exactly the problem (as Cuban agents) that Rumsfeld was meeting the president about.

The only thing the media haven’t done is realize something inspiring is happening: The small countries have sought dialogue on issues of mutual importance and officials like Rumsfeld have sat down and given them some well-deserved attention. There’s plenty that’s right with that.

But the mockery of the media is relentless on these trips, and probably one reason why many small countries have not gotten the attention they merit. What U.S. official would want to visit such countries amid such harassment and insults? Both Mongolia and Paraguay have tried hard to improve their situations, bringing out many free market reforms and have begun efforts to extend trade ties. What’s wrong with any of this?

The mainstream media does a disservice when it acts like adolescents snapping towels like a bunch of losers in a locker room against the efforts of the U.S. to give attention to small as well as major countries. They also reveal an embarassing parochiality in their ignorance of these countries. In their minds, if it’s not London, Paris or Baghdad, if there’s no bureau there, it’s a country to be laughed at. It’s their mentality and I know it. They should be ashamed. It’s not the size or the power of the country that counts – it’s how good the country is that matters.

Besides, there are no small countries if there are sound institutions, some kind of democracy, good currency, fair justice and decent incentives, and absence of corruption. No such thing as small if democratic revolutions exist in them. Just ask Singapore, Estonia, El Salvador, or Luxembourg. Not one of those countries is insignificant or unimportant.

Read Academic Elephant’s take here, and my furious essays on media mockery against Paraguay here.

UPDATE: Elephant has more thoughts here.