Continental Drift: How to combat Europe's toothless anti-Americanism.

Opinion Journal ^ | 03/10/2002 | CHARLES MOORE

[Pokey78]

European elites witnessing the unilateral exercise of U.S. power in Afghanistan, the Philippines and now Georgia resemble the ex-smoker in a room with someone who still smokes. It reminds them, sometimes intolerably, of what they once were. For obvious historical reasons, Europeans, particularly Continentals, have bad memories of unilaterally exercised power and have long since concluded that the best way to contain war is the multilateral way.

[SkyPilot]

Bump for Mr. Moore. A British editor with a sense of history, morality, justice, and common sense.

[SkyPilot]

Bump for Mr. Moore. A British editor with a sense of history, morality, justice, and common sense.

[samtheman]

American policy has failed to capitalize on this. Not enough has been done for the U.S. to explain herself to non-American audiences. A classic example was the aftermath of the State of the Union speech. After the "axis of evil" phrase was coined, where were the weighty spokesmen fanning out across the world telling us what it meant? Since the days of the Johnson White House, U.S. administrations do not seem to have seen it as their job to provide a robust public diplomacy on behalf of presidential aims, so it is hardly surprising that European ministries were cross. In all those areas which might be termed the soft determinants of power, not nearly enough is done. The vacuum is therefore filled by the critics.

True enough as far as it goes. On the other hand, we Americans can't be blamed for saying, "who gives a flying fart what they think?"

[pepsionice]

When you look at the major countries in Europe and who runs the media (both press and tv), its 95 percent liberal. They have total control over the public opinion. There are major exceptions in UK, and a couple of decent right-wing exceptions in Italy...and thats it. So, we can all understand the anti-Americanism flavor coming out of Europe. These are the same fools that said that Bosnia had to be saved, but really could not do the job. They are the same folks that same Kosovo had to be saved, but could not do the job. They are the same fools that want the Kyoto Agreement to work, but really have no knowledge or facts to back up the agreement. Because of the Euro, Germany is slowly sliding off into a major economic pit and will not be a major player in European politics over the next 5 years. The same can be said for France. So, the bottom line is....do we really care what a bunch of idiots care about in Europe? I don't think so.

[Gladwin]

I've heard the Daily Telegraph being called the Daily Jackboot by a Brit. Just so everyone knows where they are on the British political spectrum.

[brat]

"A second lesson is that there is no substitute for free, sovereign countries acting in their own interest."........?Bravo Mr. Moore!

[Savage Beast]

“Of the 15 EU states, only Greece produced a consistent popular majority opposed to American intervention in Afghanistan. ”

And the Greeks have been asleep at the wheel for 2,300 years.

One wonders if they see the connection between opposition to American intervention and the loss of the Elgin Marbles.

I guess you could say they've lost their marbles. (Sorry. ..couldn't resist that one.)

[heleny]

bump