Quote from a Dutch article:
"In large segments of western Europe, American diplomacy has achieved the status of a leper. Each and every U.S. diplomatic initiative is automatically suspect, regardless of its content. The face America has shown since 9/11, with its emphasis on fighting on terror, is abhorrent to many.
West Europeans, after all, have long abandoned all- encompassing struggles — the French because they have always lost them, the Germans because they have become afraid of themselves."
Fulll text:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/20/opinion/edbrouwers.php
Agree or disagree? Can Europe's foreign policy be summed up these says as 'don't bother us'?
Originally posted by spruce112358AGREED.😀
Quote from a Dutch article:
"In large segments of western Europe, American diplomacy has achieved the status of a leper. Each and every U.S. diplomatic initiative is automatically suspect, regardless of its content. The face America has shown since 9/11, with its emphasis on fighting on terror, is abhorrent to many.
West Europeans, after all, have ...[text shortened]... ree or disagree? Can Europe's foreign policy be summed up these says as 'don't bother us'?
I,m sure this post probably won't go anywhere because you are not bashing Bush or America.
David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary spoke in Dallas, Texas, USA at a National Center for Policy Analysis luncheon yesterday and told those gathered that although the Europeans might publicly decry the policies of the United States, viz a viz the War on Islamic Fundamentalism, he said that privately there was a great deal of support and cooperation from the EU, including France.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterAnd how would he know - if it was private?
David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary spoke in Dallas, Texas, USA at a National Center for Policy Analysis luncheon yesterday and told those gathered that although the Europeans might publicly decry the policies of the United States, viz a viz the War on Islamic Fundamentalism, he said that privately there was a great deal of support and cooperation from the EU, including France.
Originally posted by spruce112358No.
Quote from a Dutch article:
"In large segments of western Europe, American diplomacy has achieved the status of a leper. Each and every U.S. diplomatic initiative is automatically suspect, regardless of its content. The face America has shown since 9/11, with its emphasis on fighting on terror, is abhorrent to many.
West Europeans, after all, have ...[text shortened]... ree or disagree? Can Europe's foreign policy be summed up these says as 'don't bother us'?
Bush's opponents like to misrepresent the picture and keep pounding on the "fact" that Bush stands alone in the world. As I said this is a misrepresentation and more precisely .... it is a lie.
This however does not mean there isn't any criticism or mistrust. There is.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterHe isn't a member of the Government.
Alas, I admit I don't know how British politics works. I thought all members of the British government worked for the Crown. Who does David Davis work for then, RedMike?
He is in the opposition party (the Conservatives), hence he's the shadow Home Secretary.
He is in no position to know what 'private support' is given to the US by the UK or anyone else.
Originally posted by RedmikeMy head is reeling Redmike -- the political scene on your island is much too complex for simple me. Davis is a current member of Parliament, is that not part of the government in the UK? He was also a member of the last Conservative government, so I'm sure that his experience and intelligence would allow him to speak with some degree of confidence on these matters. In his Wiki bio, it appears Mr. Davis is very active in British politics:
He isn't a member of the Government.
He is in the opposition party (the Conservatives), hence he's the [b]shadow Home Secretary.
He is in no position to know what 'private support' is given to the US by the UK or anyone else.[/b]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Davis_%28British_politician%29
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterThe Government is formed from the majority or ruling party - in this case the labour party.
My head is reeling Redmike -- the political scene on your island is much too complex for simple me. Davis is a current member of Parliament, is that not part of the government in the UK? He was also a member of the last Conservative government, so I'm sure that his experience and intelligence would allow him to speak with some degree of confidenc ...[text shortened]... ctive in British politics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Davis_%28British_politician%29
The opposition parties aren't part of the government.
All MPs, of whatever party, are members of the House of Commons.
While Davis was part of the last Conservative government, that was 10 years ago. He'll be guessing when he claims to know what is currently happening.
Originally posted by spruce112358Not at all.
Quote from a Dutch article:
"In large segments of western Europe, American diplomacy has achieved the status of a leper. Each and every U.S. diplomatic initiative is automatically suspect, regardless of its content. The face America has shown since 9/11, with its emphasis on fighting on terror, is abhorrent to many.
West Europeans, after all, have ...[text shortened]... ree or disagree? Can Europe's foreign policy be summed up these says as 'don't bother us'?
First of all, the EU doesn't have any meaningful institution that coordinates foreign policy. Many make the mistake of believing this means that the EU cannot have common foreign policies, but this is utterly false. It just means that these decisions are decided through discussion and cooperation of individual members.
This can lead to a full backing of its members of some foreign policies or partial ones that lead to action coordinated by multilateral agreements (tacit or explicit). The incredibly hypocrite EU-bashing propaganda that we see (usually from some specific pressure groups from across the pond) claims that the lack of institutional coordination paralyzes the EU from taking any action. Interesting that they provide the exact opposite reason (excessive coordination) as justification for a supposed economic paralization. One would smile if only the results of this propaganda weren't so real in the minds of some people.
Just because Europe has a different concept for the organization of society (also with respect to the rest of the world) than the one the current US administration advocates, doesn't mean that there is no concept. The EU is an incredibly innovative concept of cooperation between countries, some of them historical rivals and major opponents in both world wars (and let's not forget also minor opponents in the Cold War).
The expansion of the EU is a remarkable new historical concept. Instead of forcing change into other countries (IMO, as the US is doing now) or even simply leading through example (as arguably the US has also done before), the EU has actually been giving the opportunity to other countries to become a voluntary integrating part of it. That this integration is conditional and not unconditional is a NOT a dictatorial approach, simply a sovereign one since membership is voluntary.
The EU has a concept of society and is willing to embrace neighbouring countries that share this concept and have the (estimated) conditions to do so. This is the EU's encompassing struggle and one I'm willing to back all the way.