Bush rewards friends, sends ominous signals to opponents of Iraq war

USA TODAY ^ | 5/13/03 | Richard Benedetto

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON

[onyx]

Critics of a Bush diplomacy that rewards friends and punishes enemies say it is "too simplistic" and could do serious damage to the French and German alliances critical to U.S. interests.

Wrong. It's called "PRINCIPLED" --- an attribute democrats lack.

[Phyto Chems]

It will be very interesting for sure.

[night reader]

Members of the "coalition of the willing" have been invited to meet with the president. Coalition opponents have not.
=============================
I have mild hertburn over the term, "coalition of the willing." I have several other names, any of which would be better... or maybe use them all in a rotation:
Coalition of the Brave;
Coalition of the Honorable;
Coalition of the Courageous;
Coalition of the Trustworthy;
Coalition of the Bold;
Coalition of the Compassionate;
Coalition of the Generous;
Coalition of the Selfless;
Coalition of Freedom Lovers;
Coalition of the Worthy;
Coalition of the Honest;
Coalition of the Just; and
Coalition of the Ethical.

The list could go on with like terms. The message, of course, is that those who opposed the coalition, whether domestic or foreign, are none of the above.

[Concerned]

NIGHT READER WROTE: "I have mild hertburn over the term, "coalition of the willing." I have several other names, any of which would be better... or maybe use them all in a rotation:

"Coalition of the Brave;"
etc.

How about the following?:

Coalition of the Trustworthy;
Coalition of the Loyal;
Coalition of the Helpful;
Coalition of the Friendly;
Coalition of the Courteous;
Coalition of the Kind;
Coalition of the Obedient;
Coalition of the Cheerful;
Coalition of the Thrifty;
Coalition of the Brave;
Coalition of the Clean; and
Coalition of the Reverent

Sounds like a Boy Scout!

[guitfiddlist]

Critics of a Bush diplomacy that rewards friends and punishes enemies say it is too simplistic and could do serious damage to the French and German alliances critical to U.S. interests.

Perhaps. But this president, like the nations he honored Thursday, is guided by the belief that "you are either with us or against us." It will be interesting to see how that approach plays out.

Wow...man...that's just crazy enough to work. Once again, Bush shows 'Rat liberals that their specious intellectualism is no substitute for having a clue.

[kevkrom]

Critics of a Bush diplomacy that rewards friends and punishes enemies say it is too simplistic and could do serious damage to the French and German alliances critical to U.S. interests.

1. "Critics"? And whom would these unnamed critics be? Or is this just Benedetto's own opinion being inserted into the article?

2. What alliances do we have with France and Germany that are "critical to U.S. interests" when it is obvious that these countries do not honor them in the first place? The President is right -- act like you're not our friends, and you won't be treated as if you are still one.

[The Wizard]

reality and responsibility come to the White House after 8 years "feels good, do it"

[1rudeboy]

bttt

[sam_paine]

What alliances do we have with France and Germany that are "critical to U.S. interests"

Cheese is a critical part of Dr. Atkins' diet. Therefore, uh, since obesity is a huge threat to healthcare (universal that is) then natural cheeses from, well, maybe France (or Wisconson) are critically interseting.

Oh, OK, I give up. You're right.

[Go Gordon]

Critics of a Bush diplomacy that rewards friends and punishes enemies say it is too simplistic and could do serious damage to the French and German alliances critical to U.S. interests.

"Critics"? Critics? Another non-sourced statement. Taking a page out of the NYT playbook, USA Today strikes again with another inserted criticism of its own, disguised as if someone else made this view. Why not name the critics, Mr. Benedetto? Is it because its your own criticism? Or is it because no one wants to be identified as holding that view, and therefore shouldn't be printed. I wish the media would grow some balls and source the opinions, or leave them the heck out and simply report the stinkin' news.

[Tom Bombadil]

could do serious damage to the French and German alliances critical to U.S. interests.

This blames the victim of French and German actions for the results of those actions. What stupidity.

[Core_Conservative]

Sounds good to me - I would rather be a Boy Scout than a great deal of other things!

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

Bush = Foe Hammer

[facedown]

Bush rewards friends, sends ominous signals to opponents...

How bizarre.

[onyx]

You're so right. I'm in agreement with you on all points!

Too clever indeed. An un-named source always precedes a whopper!

[wayoverontheright]

Bush rewards friends, sends ominous signals to opponents of Iraq war

In the same article, we have this paragraph:

French President Jacques Chirac was so miffed by the quick rush by these small nations to support the United States that he scolded them, threatening that their applications for membership in the European Union might be looked upon with disfavor if they kept it up. He likened them to spoiled children, but they were not deterred.

So just WHO is sending "ominous signals" here?

[Fearless Flyers]

I like how you think. I never liked the term "coalition of the willing" either.

[bruinbirdman]

The Senate that day also unanimously approved membership of the seven emerging democracies — Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia — in NATO

Sounds like a list of "New Europe". Nice to have a few nations aboard who will let us fly over now and then.

They need to be vigilant. They made a wise choice backing U.S. foreign policy in Iraq (Baathist socialist).

Let's hope they don't go for the push to join the Union of Soviet Socialist Europeans and continue to admire the American freedom model.

yitbos