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.
"Isn't that just like a wop. Bringing a knife to a gunfight." Great movie.