Rumsfeld says he does not regret remark about Europe

[treefrogjohn]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/02/06/international0800EST0515.DTL

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Friday he does not regret having referred to France and Germany as "old Europe," a comment in 2003 that many Europeans took as an insult.

"I'm too old to have regrets," Rumsfeld said in an interview with several European journalists shortly before the start of a NATO defense ministers meeting. "No, I don't regret it."

Although his remark may add fuel to an old fire, Rumsfeld said he had not meant to denigrate traditional U.S. allies Germany and France. He said his intention had been to distinguish between "old NATO" with its membership of 19 countries and the "new NATO" that is adding seven more.

<snip>
On Thursday, Rumsfeld said U.S. relations with Europe, which were badly strained by the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq, have returned to being "fairly normal."

<snip>
"We are being hurt by al-Jazeera in the Arab world," he said. "There is no question about it. The quality of the journalism is outrageous -- inexcusably biased -- and there is nothing you can do about it except try to counteract it." He said it was turning Arabs against the United States.

"You could say it causes the loss of life," he added. "It's causing Iraqi people to be killed" by enflaming anti-American passions and encouraging attacks against Iraqis who assist the Americans, he added.


Sigh. I don't know where to begin. Get these guys out of there!!!

[Moderator]

1. Locking--dupe

Please continue discussion here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=349680&mesg_id=349680