Posted on 11/13/2004 3:29:49 PM PST by kupia_kummi
Europeans have not yet realised the seriousness of the threat of global terrorism, NATO's secretary general has warned.
There is a critical "perception gap" between Europe and the US, said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in New York on Thursday (11 November).
Differences between European allies and the US are one of the reasons for the strained relations within NATO, stressed the head of the alliance.
"If the gap is to be bridged, it has to be done from the European side and not from the United States", he said according to IHT.
"If you want to have a trans-Atlantic dialogue between grown-ups, I know that any President and any American administration is willing to listen to the European voice as long as it is one European voice. If it is five different voices, they will not take the trouble to listen and they will wonder what is Europe".
Mr de Hoop Scheffer, a former Dutch foreign minister, told the press that his meeting with US President George W. Bush should be seen as a sign that trans-Atlantic frictions had eased.
Asked about Iraq, he promised that if the Iraqi government asks NATO to do more it will be seriously considered.
(Excerpt) Read more at euobserver.com ...
As long as Chirac has Europe in his pocket with the help of his faithful sidekick Schoeder and those guys in Belgium and Luxembourg, it's pretty hopeless.
Chirac is NEVER going to be a team player. He's never even going to pretend to be polite. That would be beneath his dignity as a Frog.
Europe will realize the seriousness of global terror. By that time it will be to late for even the French to surrender.
no kidding?
and they not only lack in the fight but the understanding of terror.
and they have too many selfish needs at the personal level to care, it seems. Complacency lessons are truly the school of hard knocks.
"Europeans have not yet realised the seriousness of the threat of global terrorism..."
Yo yo yo big "E"!!! Yaw bes' check yoself before you find yoself byyyyyyy yoself!! Yeeah boy!!! 'Cause Ahmed Akbar 'bout to bust a cap in y'alls a$$! PEACE!!!
Europe lags behind US. Period. No more needs be said.
What about the Poles, the Slovaks, the British, the Italians, the Spanish. Is Europe just the French and Germans? Over half the EU has participated in Iraq, give them credit when credit is due.
Really? Are we gonna have to take them over again and run their continent some day?
Europe lags behind US in fight against terror
...duh...no kidding?
Translation from diplospeak: "Piss off while we drink wine and eat cheese."
This is a realistic worry for any genuine thinkers in the EU. I see little reason for the United States to intervene if Osama decided to attack... ummm... lets say France.
Europeans have not yet realised the seriousness of the threat of global terrorism, NATO's secretary general has warned.
Italy and Spain gave their support only because their conservative governments did. At the first sign of trouble, Spain spectacularly capitulated (not the government, the people.) We've got to wait and see what Italy does later.
British support is largely Tony Blair's support (also, keep in mind, he received strong support from the Tories in all Iraq related decisions.) Tony Blair's own party is not only largely anti-American but also is mostly anti-Blair.
While I take my hat off to all the soldiers of our allies, I prefer to reserve my judgment on their governments for a later time.
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