Now on Sprokets, we dance.
Posted on 02/07/2005 9:41:57 PM PST by quidnunc
If George W. Bush is a cowboy, then one of his most trusted hands just brought in a stray. Thanks to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent trip to Europe, Germany is now promising to rejoin the herd migrating toward Iraqi democracy. This was not how it was supposed to be. Last year John Kerry claimed only he could bring in the wayward European cattle.
It turns out, though, that one of the chief architects of President Bush's "unilateral" policy is also a good diplomat. Ms. Rice won applause in every European country she visited. "We have a lot of experience with the building of functional institutions for countries," said Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. "This is a kind of assistance that we would like to make available to the Iraqi government." He added: "I very much am of the opinion, and we both, I think, know that the international community of states is now called upon to come in and help, and Germany certainly will do so."
The "international community" is now behind the policy of building a stable and peaceful democracy in Iraq. What a turnabout this is from just a few months ago. Expect President Bush to find a warm reception on his coming European tour.
It should be said that this was the likely result for whoever won the White House last November. Europe cannot long afford to isolated itself from the United States. Yet let us not discount Ms. Rice's magnanimity. Her poise, grace and eloquence make it easier for Germany to do what it would do anyway. But the bottom line is that Mr. Schroeder is promising to train Iraqi troops (albeit outside of Iraq) and provide other assistance, all while praising the recent elections there …
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(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Now on Sprokets, we dance.
Heavy lifting done, they'll eagerly pitch in.
The change is not that the nations will do business again, it is the change in attitude of the American people.
The governments of France and Germany are not allied.
Now on Sprokets, we dance.
Must be panic at DU
Ya ever seen an old cow nearly hurt herself trying to stick her neck outside the fence to get at grass?
That's the picture I have. Stay safe in the pasture but reach out just enough to stay safe and get at the green grass.
"The governments of France and Germany are not allied."
The only nation that they are not allied with is the U.S.
They can't be trusted after the underhanded deeds they dealt us and the Iraqi people. JMHO
Don't be short-sighten with these Europeans.
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
Give me some of that ole time Euuuro-peeeon nuance. The Franco-Deutshlanders have proven to be lying thieves and not Allies in any sense.
"It should be said that this was the likely result for whoever won the White House last November"
I do not agree. I think Kerry would have had a more difficult time getting any of EU onboard because Kerry was changing his mind every day (sometimes more than once a day). Who would want to partner up with somebody like that ..??
Besides .. even if the elections had come off the same (and I'm not sure they would have), I suspect Kerry would have immediately followed Kennedy's calls for withdrawal and pulled our troops out - commiting the very same crime they did in Vietnam.
Iraq would have exploded into complete chaos - and IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL GWB'S FAULT!!
And then it would have been a real nightmare here in America.
GOD Almighty was surely watching over America.
Happiness is....France eating crow, among other things...
I will sleep well tonite knowing that "Losers get in line, before you are left behind"...!!! Bwahhahahahaaa!
I am realy no friend of Schröder i never voted for him and i will never vote for his party but your whole comment makes no sence by the way.
Germany was against that war and more than 80% of the german people backed their government for that decission.
Germany was against that war because we don´t belive that the Iraq was a threat to the wolrd the Us or even his neighbours. Our secret service told us that Hussein had ( if at all) only small WMD capabilaties and surely no reasonable atomic programm. So our government didn´t follow the argumentation of the US government. That´s all and in the end was my government better in their judgement than yours on that issue.
Nobody here wants the US to fail on their effort to stabilize the Iraq now that the war took place. Dirtectly after the war the german helping organisations start their work ( a firend of mine a doctor was in iraq) until the security situation allows them to work.
The german governmnent didn´t want to sent troops and nothing changed there ( by the way every european country beside the UK that took part in the war decided to leave Iraq) but our government always was willing to help without sending troops. So nothing changed here in germany on that topic.
I was just in Germany. Mood was sullen. 60th anniversary of Auschwitz. W pulling 120K troops out, sending to Turkey. GM cutting 20% at Opel. Biggest unemployment number since WWII.
Now this...
Pay backs sometimes suck.
Dieter to France: Your anger is delicious.
Wait a minute - the only reason we were able to be so successful so quickly is because the UN and France -Germany refused to take part.
Let them send money - but the last thing we need in Iraq are a bunch of self-loving self important French and Germans mucking up the progress we have made.
Does this mean Kerry won't have to share his "secret plan" for winning the peace in the MiddleEast?
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