‘Old Europe’ unrepentant

[SoCalDem]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4379560/

‘Old Europe’ unrepentant
Slow improvement in trans-Atlantic relations after row over Iraq



German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder listens as President Bush answers questions from reporters during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 27.

By Andy Eckardt
Producer
NBC News
Updated: 12:04 p.m. ET March 12, 2004
MAINZ, Germany - Ever since Germany and some other European nations refused to support a U.S.-led military intervention into Iraq last year, a trans-Atlantic rift has been evident.Relations between the United States and its long-time European allies are a little more cordial now, as demonstrated by the a meeting last month between President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

But the traditionally warm and cozy friendship — especially between Germany and the United States — is hard to detect these days.And even in countries whose governments supported the war — such as Britain and the United Kingdom — public backing for the military campaign was far from robust.

The stings from U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s verbal attacks against Germany last year are still fresh. Derisively labeling Germany part of “Old Europe” and putting the country in line with rogue nations such as Libya and Cuba — as examples of other countries that were not supportive of the war — did not buy much American goodwill in Germany. For the past year, Europeans have been waiting for an apology, but they have not gotten one yet.

When Rumsfeld was recently asked about the current state of U.S.-European relations and his “old Europe” remarks, he said the relationships were now “fairly normal.” Rumsfeld added that "he was too old to regret things he has said in the past.”Germans have moved on and are hoping to start mending fences. "At present, bilateral talks between the two governments are mainly about reconciliation," said Klaus Proempers, a correspondent for German television ZDF.


snip.............

[DrWeird]

1. Repentant? THEY WERE RIGHT!

Fucking nazi propaganda.

[BillZBubb]

2. I hope the first thing President Kerry does

is visit Canada, Russia, Germany, and France. No stops in Poland, Italy, Denmark, England, or Spain. Let the world know who our REAL friends are.

[sydneycarton]

4. don't we want everyone to be our friend?

.

[BillZBubb]

6. We want real friends, not suck ups to the Bush* junta

One European critic of poor American foreign policy once said:

"The Russians want other countries to fear them.
The British want other countries to respect them.
The Americans want other countries to like them."

The British, Italians, Polish, etc were not our friends by enabling the dimwit to invade Iraq. They hurt our country and their own. Kerry needs to set a precedent that those who deal honestly with us will be rewarded. Sychophants will not be favorably looked upon when an honest President is in office.

[billyskank]

7. "George W. Bush" does not equal "America,"

in the same way please do not conflate Tony Blair's arse-licking with the mood of all of Britain. I wanted my country to be a friend of America's rather than a sycophant, but unfortunately my Prime Minister thinks differently.

[sydneycarton]

5. don't we want everyone to be our friend?

Wouldn't your proposition just be doing the same thing we're accusing Bush of doing, only in reverse?

[Supply Side Jesus]

3. So will Spain be add to 'old Europe' now?

lol...as the walls crumble around them.