An 'A La Carte' Coalition Between U.S. and Europe-(Europeans united against U.S. )

.washingtonpost ^ | February 24, 2005 | Glenn Kessler

[Flavius]

Two years ago, as the United States prepared to invade Iraq, much of the opposition in Europe focused on the need to restrain the American "hyperpower" from running roughshod over international norms.

But as President Bush nears the end of his goodwill tour of Europe this week, it is increasingly clear the attitude has shifted. With the United States pinned down in Iraq, where the continued deployment of nearly 150,000 troops has severely strained the U.S. military, European leaders no longer expect further military expeditions in Bush's second term. And so they have been gracious -- but assertive, thus reflecting how far the United States has fallen from "hyperpower" status -- a term coined about America by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine.

[Miss Marple]

Sometimes I click over to the Post articles, but on this one I have seen enough to pass on further reading. Blech.

[Flavius]

I also have only read few paragraphs, i usually stop at word French

[sgtbono2002]

This is drivel, isnt worth the time to read.

[MadIvan]

Pravda on the Potomac strikes again. One wonders if catwalk models use Post articles to help them regurgitate their lunch.

Regards, Ivan

[Desdemona]

What planet is this guy on?

[dog breath]

I fail to see where reality and the opinions of the article intersect. President Bush throws the Europeans a bone and the French try to interpret it as a sign of weakness. The Europeans who were afraid that we didn't need them are still correct.

[Jeff F]

reflecting how far the United States has fallen from "hyperpower" status -- a term coined about America by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine.

It was only the Europeans who thought of the US as a hyperpower, not the Americans. All the claims of the US having acting unilaterally before and now looking to be all but a junior partner with the EU, completely ignores the extent the US went to to try to convince the Europeans to back its efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also greatly overstates what is actually going on now. The US is responding to Europe in a manner meant to placate to her irrational sensibilities as one might with a looney aunt.

From an American perspective, the Europeans are profoundly disconnected from reality, ever focusing on the imagined threats posed by American economy, culture, religious fundamentalism, and bellicosity, when they should worry about the economic threat posed by China, the cultural and fundamentalist threats posed by their own rapidly growing indigenous Muslim populations, and the bellicosity of terrorists and their supporters in nondemocratic states.

All the US asks is that Europe be a partner in preserving the West. The Europeans, however, have been having much too good a time safely directing their anger at America. In their hearts they know America is not a threat and will not respond in any meaninful way. At the same time they actively ignore the true and far more dangerous threats because those would require difficult and expensive actions. Anyway, when it comes down to it, the Americans can be counted on to bail them out their self created mess once again.

Looney aunts indeed.