This thread was invaded by a troll..ruined it for any discussion..
Do I think any benefit can come from this trip? Yes,I do, but my expectations are not high.
I did not click on the blog link. I always think the complete article should be posted.
I think the Euros are slowly coming round to sanity..slowly..and not all of them.. just like in the US I suppose, its just that here (I´m in Europe) the anti-Bush atmosphere is really so strong you don´t get a sense that there´s any support at all. But that´s not so, of course,, it´s just well hidden and the blog I linked to is a lonely European conservative voice...(sniff..)
The "misunderestimation" of Bush is still such that folks - if they listen - will be surprised at his obvious intelligence and charm - I mean not the pundits and the media, but the ordinary people watching extracts on the TV..
He is definitely one to be proud of, that W!
But the unwritten agenda is huge -
- NATO, with Schroeder wanting to abolish it and replace it wth a EU-only body;
- Germany selling nuclear stuff to Iran (also in this blog);
- the EU wanting to lift the China arms embargo.
On all these issues the US and the EU are clashing (I know we´re all on the same side, and that in Iran our stated aims are even the same, but there is at the minimum, a clash of approach) and if any progress could be made on one of those 3 topics, it would be good (probably behind the scenes type stuff though).
Anyway. I know there´s not a lot of interest in the US in Europe (not a lot over here either...) but I am looking forward to finding my way round here a bit better and next time I shall make sure to quote the blog in full!!