Wishful Thinking and the Europeans

Tech Central Station ^ | August 5, 2004 | Meelis Kitsing

[quidnunc]

Most Europeans who are fiercely critical of George W. Bush would feel at home in Massachusetts. Liberal Massachusetts seems a world apart from Texas, the home state of President Bush. Its dominantly liberal politics and "Europeanness" offer a stark contrast to the cowboy conservatism of Texas. Not to mention that the convention week in Boston offered a multitude of opportunities to witness or participate in anti-Bush rallies and events critical of the current administration's policies.

However, it is alarming to see how the mere facts that presidential contender John Kerry is from Massachusetts, is a Democrat and is not George W. Bush have lifted expectations among European policymakers and opinion leaders. This is not only the case with countries that officially have not supported the U.S. administration but even in countries that are party to the so-called Coalition of the Willing. Bush-bashing turned near hatred has blinded many otherwise smart and rational Europeans, and has kept them from seeing the forest for the trees.

To understand this, one need not turn to Republican analysts and people otherwise critical of Democrats and John Kerry. Democratic foreign policy experts offer plenty of reasons to suggest that European expectation for radical foreign policy change under Kerry would be misplaced. A discussion on U.S. foreign policy at the Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on July 27 also seemed to point toward a conclusion by which Europeans should calm down.

-snip-

[Lexington Green]

An English dude walks up to a ranch house in Texas and asks a cowboy "Is your master at home?"

The cowboy replies "My friend, the sunbitch ain't been born."

[lormand]

Yet another reason that I am thankful to be living in Texas.

[Owl558]

The problem, of course, is that Europeans have no intention of changing anything vis-a-vis policies regarding cooperation with the US. Everything I have seen out of the Europeans is presented along the lines of, "the Americans need to come to our point of view" as opposed to true cooperation and compromise. Their hope is that Kerry will adopt the European view whole cloth. I am afraid that this is a lot of imprinting on someone other than Bush.

One need only look at European tactics towards other nations (read Turkey and EU membership) to see how they make promises and then move the goalposts once the other side meets their conditions. Look at Iranian nuclear negotiations to see how impotent, laughably ineffective, and dangerous their foreign policies are.

Additionally, one need only look at the lack of adherence to the currency stability act by the "great" powers in Europe and the recent agreement on training Iraq's army to understand that these countries cannot be trusted to keep any promises they make anyway.

Thanks, but no thanks Europe. The bloom is off that rose.

[WestTexasWend]

Europeans are unhappy with anyone who forces them to deal with the present. They prefer to live in their "glorious" past, and resent being made to face reality. This is why they periodically allow tyrants and dictators (who promise to restore their power and influence and pander to their elitist streak) to rise to power. This is also why so many Europeans leave Europe to find their freedom and fortunes elsewhere. It is beautiful, yes, but a stale and stifling place...like living in a museum.

[Fast1]

Really what can that half a$$ bunch show us? How to dodge German tank tracks or cry for help from America. they can now run along and play who needs their opinions.

[GOP_1900AD]

Interestingly, Texas, by and large, embodies the sorts of traditionally "European" values which were common prior to the 20th century and is therefore, arguably a sanctuary of true "Europeanness." Massachusetts used to be that way, but was taken over by the New Left, due to the high density of universities combined with the 1960s student revolutionary movements. Europe itself, apart from its original and restored historical sites, has lost touch with its own core values, and really reflects a set of values that were constructed from the ground up after the end of WW2, by utopian intellectuals who incorrectly blamed traditions for causing the horrible great wars.

[TexanToTheCore]

The future is Asia. End of story...

[Owl558]

"The future is Asia. End of story..."

That is so right Texan. By and large, these eastern acedemics (and others) adhere to a "Eurocentric" view of foreign relations more out of tradition than anything else. Our policies/alliances in the Pacific rim are going to be far more important to us in the 21st century than any Atlantic "alliance" is currently.

[Neocon Shavuz]

I am afraid, you oversimplifying things.
In my opinion, France and Co. are hammering together a new geopolitical pole to balance US influence after Soviet Union had died. From now on they will always act having a particular interest in presenting themselves as new superpower, betting on rising influence of third world countries in UN and growing size of EU in eastern hemisphere.
I doubt Frenches are straightforward in their public attempt to convince US to accept their point of view. They know they won't be able to succeed. But that's the part of the game. You have to admit, though, their position not bad (again). During WW2 they lost, but for 60 years they are part of victorious Allies. Very, very convenient!