Their silly paper-rattling about Bush keeping "all options on the table" undermines in so many ways the the outcome of the Iranian nuclear diplomacy they are so eager to mediate.
They might first worry about their sinking economy and their up-and-coming Muslim populations who don't share their harsh secularized outlook and (unsavory) global designs (which continue to sink year by year).
So go off arrogantly, Europe, but don't come back crying to Uncle Sam for help because we aren't interested in back stabbers. Who needs enemies when one has friends like this?
[This is my first article posting.]
Welcome. You done good.
"The West" is dead. We can only give that old corpse CPR for so long before even we give up.
first post BUMP!
I'm a little puzzled by the author's conclusion that America's ability to indefinitely deploy 150,000 soldiers to the other side of the world demonstrates that its power has diminished.
Is this really new? Where was Europe on the issue of Economic sanctions against Cuba?
Where was Europe on the issue of developing Iran's energy industry during the 1990's?
Where was Europe on the issue of selling military arms to Taiwan?
If Europe really does feel "bolder" to oppose the United States, it might have more to do with
1. Europe no longer feeling the threat of attack
2. Europe no longer fearing economic retaliation since trade disputes are no longer handled bilaterally, but by a foreign WTO court.
Man, this idiot is gonna be pissed after we take care of Iran. Maybe when he said 150,000 troops he was thinking of the EU army....pffttt! Do those tards even HAVE a EU army?
The Europeans completely misunderstand American intentions and power:
"And so they have been gracious -- but assertive, thus reflecting how far the United States has fallen from "hyperpower" status..."
Gracious? I don't think so. 'Patronizing' comes immediately to mind. They think the President comes to them with hat in hand, begging for help. I tend to agree with some conservative pundits I've read recently. President Bush felt he had to make the effort because most of these western countries have been our allies, more or less, for decades, and he believes history demands that he at least try to regain some of that sense of shared purpose. Power--real power--has shifted away from the Euro sphere, and no cute doubletalk about 'soft power' is going to change things. 'Soft power' is what one says when bringing a knife to a gunfight and hoping no one notices. We notice. Others, less kindly than we, notice too.
"Europe more willing to go own way"
Just go Europe, just go away, away and leave US be.
Yes and Europe should go down on their knees and hail. IF not they are not good friends. Maybe somebody should just relax a little bit and respect other countries decisions. Mutual respect its better, respecting that other nations dont always share the same views. There are more agreements than disagreements between the EU and the US. By the way think of the scenario if suddenly somebody went to Hawaii and formed a new state. I wonder if the US would reacted different than the Chinese with regards to Taiwan.