Posted on 03/12/2009 3:39:00 PM PDT by Parmenio
Gordon Brown's hopes of striking a major agreement at his London summit on the world economy have been dealt a major blow when the White House said President Barack Obama will not seek any "specific commitment" at the meeting.
The statement from the White House was the latest sign of a growing trans-Atlantic rift which threatens Mr Brown's hopes that leaders at the April 2 summit will agree a "global new deal" of economic and financial reforms.
Mr Obama, backed by Mr Brown, has been arguing that world leaders should use the summit to agree more fiscal stimulus measures, borrowing in order to inject billions more into their faltering economies.
But Germany and France have led European resistance to the plan, insisting that the summit should instead focus on agreeing tougher rules on financial regulation.
France's President Nicholas Sarkozy flatly rejected any more stimulus measures on Thursday.
In response, the White House appeared to write off any hope that the London summit will produce a substantial agreement.
"We're not going to negotiate some specific economic percentage or commitment," Mr Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
An additional quote from the the article:
Despite the Prime Minister's hopes of unity, the US-EU dispute about the summit appears to be worsening.
Timothy Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary, on Wednesday called for the G20 countries to agree a "substantial, sustained commitment to stimulus" at the London meeting.
But meeting in Berlin, Mr Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, issued a joint statement rejecting more stimulus measures and arguing that the London summit must focus on banking rules.
Well...gee....by the type Odumbo gets done...we’ll probably be at WAR with our allies.
Obama won’t be seeking? The Euros called this meeting to call America to the carpet. Bush was a good poodle. Obama not.
In all seriousness, it's a good possibility or at least they'll turn their backs when the ME hits us again.
Watch for castro and chavez to be the “new” allies. Oh I forgot Ortega. Obamas true soulmates.
Little did we know that when obamarama spoke of repairing our relations with the World he was only speaking of the muslim world.
Unfortunately, Obama and co. think massive debt is a good idea. Not a good sign when Europeans have better judgment than "our" leader.
I doubt Obama will last 6 months.
Would Biden be an improvement?
LLS
What will happen for him to leave office?
LLS
LLS
He would keep us laughing.
LLS
you are correct...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Here is zero’s campaign promise:
Barack Obama will reestablish America’s strong partnership with our European allies. His presidency will restore the era – dating back to Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and others – when a U.S. president could rally European support because he was respected and admired abroad. After eight years of often gratuitous unilateralism, arrogance, and lack of diplomacy, Obama will treat allies with respect, repair America’s damaged moral authority, and recreate a mutually beneficial partnership with valuable partners
Maybe the Queen will knight him with a sharpened sword.
Don’t forget Israel. US coddling of Syria and Gaza is tantamount to a stab in the back of that ally.
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