Europe and Benign Neglect (ROGER COHEN, 9/07/10, NY Times)
Europe, for the first time in hundreds of years, has become a strategic backwater. Europe is history.Since taking office, President Obama has reached out to the Muslim world as a whole, to China, to Turkey and to Iran, but has devoted scant serious diplomatic energy to Europe. In many ways, he is the first post-Atlanticist president, drawn by temperament, upbringing and circumstance to focus elsewhere.
“Europe is the object of benign U.S. neglect,” said Camille Grand, a prominent Paris-based defense analyst. “Obama has not established or re-established a strategic relationship with any single European country or with Europe as a whole.”
Obama remains popular with Europeans — even if giddy infatuation has gone the way of giddy infatuations — but European political leaders feel jilted. Obama was supposed to put together the European Humpty Dumpty that President Bush shattered by favoring alliances of the willing over old alliances. He hasn’t.
…that W left office on excellent terms with our old allies, many of whom elected leaders in his image (England, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Israel, etc.). It’s little wonder the UR doesn’t get on with W’s pals.
from: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BrothersjuddBlog/~3/xqZJFVwwyOk/meanwhile_the_reality_is.html
Related posts:
- White House kept Democratic senators hanging on phone
The Hill [DC], by Alexander Bolton Posted By: StormCnter- Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:59:44 GMT... - Three Excellent European Automakers
Whenever you feel of exceptional automobiles that are built in Europe, does your thoughts run... - Obama Disconnects Rhetoric, Reality
WASHINGTON (AP) — In President Barack Obama's sales pitch for his jobs bill, there... - The President Needs a Middle East Reality Check
With friends like President Obama, who needs enemies? If you're Israel, you already have... - Obama Faces Headwinds in Florida
In the wake of the deal to raise the federal debt ceiling, President Obama...
