Neocons fret over tilt to Europe

[RedEarth]

Neocons fret over tilt to Europe
By Robert Kuttner | February 23, 2005

"AMERICA SUPPORTS a strong Europe," George W. Bush told an appreciative audience at his first major European speech in Brussels Monday, "because we need a strong partner in the hard work of advancing freedom in the world." But many on the right disagree, and the warm words conceal strenuous infighting among conservatives over the shape of the administration's Europe policy.

Gerard Baker, writing in the current Weekly Standard, criticizes the administration's olive branch and warns that Europe is seeking to become a counterweight to the United States in world affairs. The real European goal, writes Baker, is to undermine NATO, America's greatest source of trans-Atlantic influence, and to initiate policies of its own that are less bellicose than Washington's.

A prime example is the joint German-British-French initiative on Iraq, which would offer economic incentives in exchange for Iran's agreement to dismantle nuclear weapons capabilities.

American conservatives have relentlessly disparaged the Iran initiative as naive or opportunistic.

In fact, the initiative is actually making some headway and may spare us a military confrontation. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who provided crucial cover for President Bush's effort to portray the Iraq invasion as the work of a broad coalition, is with the Germans and French this time.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/02/23/neocons_fret_over_tilt_to_europe?mode=PF

[Tux]

1. Yup

EU and UN want to rule the world. I hate to them but Microsoft is closer than anyone. Only a little guy named Tux can save us.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Maybe Blair isn't stupid after all this, this being the killing. n/t

[marmar]

2. FIrst of all...,

Amurka clearly needs a counterweight in a world its trying to run roughshod over right now.
Secondly, who has tried to undermine the transatlantic alliance more than the the U.S. under Bush.
Thirdly, I'm sure the Germans, French and probably even the British area about ready to tell Bush and the neocons to go fuck themselves. We're tired of listening to your bullshit.

[bemildred]

4. You just don't know where to start with this.

You start to wonder if these guys are on hallucinogens or something.

[HereSince1628]

5. Worse then hallucinogens, they are drunk on their own rhetoric

They really do believe their line on American not tolerating a country that even aspires to challenge US economic and military hegemony.

It's very clear that they have completely fallen to the will of the dark side.

[applegrove]

6. Naive or opportunistic ? Now that is covering your bases. As always

neocons say nothing at all. American "pride school" that the neocons are responsible for will result in the strengthening and forming of new alliances the world over. Plus - America's bellicose behavior will speed up the need for such new, non-american, alliances to form. Wow! and I thought the neocons were just helping bin Laden get more popular.

"American conservatives have relentlessly disparaged the Iran initiative as naive or opportunistic".

Translation: "American conservatives have relentlessly disparaged the Iran initiative as white or black.

[teryang]

7. Translation: rivals benefit from Iran resources...

...they must be displaced and replaced, with our own corporations.

Whatever it takes to undermine the competitive position of our rivals in the economic marketplace, we will do it, even if it requires massive fraud, threats or war.

[applegrove]

8. Exactly. A close relationship between Europe & Iran is something

they have been working on for a generation. And there is a good chance for democratic improvements there too.