Bush's Security on visit to Buckingham Palace

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Tuor of Gondolin
I'm afraid that complaining about not being appreciated misses a key reason for some of the resentment of use of American power by the current crew in Washington, the incredible arrogance and contempt they exhibit when their radical neoconservative philosophy is questioned in any way.

Actually - Europe has resentment for America whenever we don't do what Europe thinks we should. You seem to think we are our own country - with our own interests.

Remember, Bush II said before getting to occupy the White House that he would be humble in conducting foreign affairs, but he, and even more Rumsfeld and Chaney, then exhibited no tolerance for real discussion and consideration for others views.

Do you remember 9/11? It seems as if much of Europe just thinks as long as we just don't do anything that the terrorism will stop. It won't stop. YOu guys tried that in WWII. The Middle East NEEDS to be changed - DEMOCRACY needs to be brought there. You guys don't seem to be too concerned.

The French are always prickly, but the Republican administration's attitude seems to have needlessly inflamed public opinion in Germany, the U. K., and Spain, and probably led to the defeat of what would have been a somewhat more sympathetic German government.

Schroeder was elected on anti-American sentiment. UK will get over it most likely and Franch as you have said - has always been "prickly". The only reason for France, Germany and Russia not supporting us in Iraq - is because they all had billions in deals with Hussein.

There were even implications by some neoconservatives, before they saw how difficult even an Iraq occupation was, that they'd be next dealing with Syria and Iran.

Why? It would depend on what issues Syria and Iran caused. I seriously doubt anything would have happened. That's a lame excuse. With a successful democracy in Afganistan and Iraq - the whole middle east CAN be transformed.

And for needlessly antagonizing countries, how about labeling them an "axis of evil?" All such name calling does is get their backs up.

Sometimes you just have to come out and say it. The only country I thought shouldn't have been mentioned in there is Iran. But as always - Europe wants to tip-toe around the problems until the become monsterous and we're back into a corner.

The same general foreign policy could have been followed without needlessly aggravating countries around the world. When you have such enormous power it isn't necessary to be obnoxious in diplomacy.

Sometimes obnoxious diplomacy is also called for. France threatened Eastern Europe with their EU membership for supporting us. We didn't really care that France didn't support us - as much as it was that they and Germany were going out of their way to stand in our way. And the reason why they were - was because of billions of dollars in deals with Hussein.