[voletti]

There is a widespread feeling in America, too, that Europe doesn't matter any more—or at least that America doesn't have a dog in Europe's internal fights. The polite version of this sentiment is that Europe is a problem that has been solved. The continent is peaceful, prosperous and civilised. America's vital interests now lie elsewhere—in tackling terrorism and managing the emergence of China. The less polite version is that Europe is a spent force, with slow economic growth, death-spiral demographics, unaffordable welfare states, simmering Muslim populations and little ability to project power abroad.

[jocon307]

"[Europe] remains America's biggest trading partner and closest ally."

I thought Canada was our biggest trading partner.

[trisham]

Yet America's indifference to it is wrong. It remains America's biggest trading partner and closest ally.

*************

1.There's a difference between indifference and disgust.

2. "Europe" is not our closest ally.

[TGOGary]

New Europe is an ally. Countries like France are done. The way American's feel about Europe is not wrong. It was these so called allies that turned their back on us. I seem to remember a place called Normandy. Our focus should be on our new and real allies in Europe who backed up America's play in Iraqi. Call me old fashion but I remember a time when an ally was an ally.

[Juan Medén]

Like the drone of a nagging wife, we have successfully learned to block out the sound of Europe.

Maybe if they had something positive to say about the US? Maybe?

[Aslan527]

I've been in Europe for over 4 months now, and... eh... just eh. They have nice old buildings and nice pieces of art, but as for the rest, it's like being on the wrong side of town in the States. When you cut through all the PC, that's all they are anyway... They are not significant because they believe in nothing. Once they wake-up, I will take more notice of this tired place.

[Faraday]

The failure of the EU constitution has one unfortunate by-product: it will delay the dissolution of NATO and the withdrawl of American military commitment to European nations that are no longer allies. The removal of large numbers of our troops from Germany is a positive development, but isn't it time that we select allies on a bilateral basis. We will stick with those who will stick with us. Let the Eurosocialists fend for their own defense.

[Jewelsetter]

The Europeans are irrelevant, lead buy a bunch of irrelevant people. They stopped being relevant when they would rather make deals to hide a problem rather than fix it.

[Seruzawa]

Actually I believe that it is Australia that has most consistently stood by the USA in foreign policy. Australia would be our "closest ally" in areas that matter.

[hershey]

The BBC is not happy. Their interviews with various Old Europe movers and shakers have a whiff of desperation. If they could figure out a way to blame the US, they would.

[Chode]

EU = End-Stage Socialism...

[latina4dubya]

THERE is a nice variant of one of Aesop's Fables which goes like this. A tiny frog shares a field with a giant ox. The frog tries to get the ox's attention by puffing himself up. The ox fails to notice the frog. The frog puffs himself up some more. The ox continues not to notice him. The frog finally puffs himself up so much that he explodes. But the ox still doesn't notice him.

i love this Aesop fable... both the Bible and Aesop's Fables are great for teaching children to think analogically...

[Natural Law]

I heard a corollary to this. The tiny frog is freezing to death. At the last moment the ox craps and covers him in warm manure, trapping him but saving his life. The frog starts croaking madly for someone to save him from is plight. After a while a fox hears his croaking and digs him out. Just when the frog begins to thank the fox, the fox eats him.

The moral or the story is that everyone who craps on you is not your enemy. Everyone who saves you is not your friend. And when yo are in sh*t over your head, keep your mouth shut.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

The American Constitution consists of seven articles. The EU constitution has over 450 pages of articles, and the list of them continues to grow. Yet the European tribes are still burying it in further minutia, as in, it is not specific enough to protect the interest of truffle pickers in France.

[FreedomSurge]

Europe would have more influence int the US if it hectored us more often. Then its leaders should take bribe money from vicious dictators to oppose our national interests. If they could affect a superior attitude while doing the above that would be helpful too.

[Polybius]

The polite version of this sentiment is that Europe is a problem that has been solved. The continent is peaceful, prosperous and civilised. America's vital interests now lie elsewhere—in tackling terrorism and managing the emergence of China. The less polite version is that Europe is a spent force, with slow economic growth, death-spiral demographics, unaffordable welfare states, simmering Muslim populations and little ability to project power abroad.

1905

2005

[skeeter]

Perotism was noisy, confused and full of unpleasant elements. But it showed that people were no longer willing to tolerate the old order, and it prepared the way for the rise of Bill Clinton on the left and Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani on the right.

Comparing the EU Constitution vote to Perot's campaign is not the way to convince this conservative that passing it would've been a good thing.

Nor is implying Giuliani is representative of the 'right'.

Nor is lamenting that Europe's absorbing of millions of Turkish moslims is now much less likely. Sheesh.