Posted on 06/02/2005 10:00:31 PM PDT by quidnunc
The great European unity project has stalled. No one was surprised at determined opposition to the proposed constitution among the always distant British. But the solid "non" in France, a leader for five decades in promoting European integration, and the overwhelming no in the Netherlands have left the plan to build a continental colossus in ruins.
That's all to the good, for both Europe and America.
European attitudes towards America have been chilly, of course. France, a member of the UN Security Council, led the effort to block the Bush administration's war against Iraq. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder won reelection in 2002 by vowing not to cooperate with Washington. Although the friendly Italian government under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi continues to hang on under pressure, last year Spanish voters rejected a Bush-friendly prime minister. Since then other European nations have been bringing home their limited forces from Iraq.
Nor can America rely on the influence of "new Europe," the former Soviet-dominated states which now are entering the European Union. Even the Polish government, which ignored its population's wishes in supporting Washington in Iraq, has edged away from the U.S. However supportive of America such nations as Hungary and Slovenia may be, they lack the significant economic or military wherewithal necessary to back up their commitments.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
"Even the Polish government, which ignored its population's wishes in supporting Washington in Iraq"
Thats a bold-faced lie. Poland was the only European nation who's population actually supported our efforts. I distinctly remember seeing the polling data and feeling both astonished and grateful.
The whole purpose of their carefully nurtured anti-Americanism was to forge a sense of unity for the EU. Instead, what they have is a pissed off US and no EU. LOL
Concur - I recall the polls of the Poles being on our side.
Funny, I seem to recall that Zappie's party was actually losing before the Madrid bombings.
Hitler almost integrated Europe six decades ago.
Some very good ideas in this article. I especially like the one above.
Thats a bold-faced lie. Poland was the only European nation who's population actually supported our efforts. I distinctly remember seeing the polling data and feeling both astonished and grateful.
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The UK population supported the war before it happened by about 55% but after the war the Blair Govt dug itself a bit of a hole so the majority would be seen as against the war ( although only the hard core liberals still bleet on about it, everyone else does not really care).
But Poland's emergence as pro-US is a great thing, they always loved Reagan, apparently they were very sad he could only serve two terms as President.
When I saw this article was about foreign, defence, and WOT policies and is written by Doug Bandow, I stopped reading. He is a classical Libertarian (large L) - spot on only in economy and social welfare policies, but wobbly on matters like national interests and survival. And I'm speaking this as a non-American.
There is enough good in every culture to endear it to each generation it produces. The noxious notions of globalists and liberals and communists cannot compare to the living, pulsing culture of a nation. They're like a virus infecting a normal cell---they can't make it on their own and must try to invade and take over the mechanism to replicate themselves, though occasionally the cell resists successfully.
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