Obama Administration Moves to Heal Rift With Europe.

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'U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will seek to break with the unilateralist tilt of the Bush years by emphasizing cooperation and diplomacy in a major weekend foreign policy speech in Germany, U.S. officials said.

His remarks on Saturday to the Munich Security Conference, a gathering of defense and security experts, will be scrutinized for more details on the new administration's policies on Russia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and NATO expansion.

Analysts said Biden's trip to Munich could go a long way toward repairing ties with Europe that were severely strained by former U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq in 2003, his policies on climate change and his confrontational approach to Russia.

"It is critical in setting the tone between this administration and the Europeans," said Sam Brannen, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"Clearly they (Europeans) want him to say the transatlantic relationship is central," Brannen said.'>>>

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/02/05/washington/politics-us-obama-biden-europe.html