Post by Moses on Feb 22, 2005 22:16:49 GMT -5
SPIEGEL ONLINE - February 21, 2005, 06:40 PM
URL: www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,342967,00.html
Bushwrapped
<br>The Gloves are Off: The European Press on Bush's Visit
Bush has arrived. The plain-spoken US President flew into Brussels on Sunday, the first stop on a five-day fence-mending trip though Europe that will take him to Germany and Slovakia as well. The European press has plenty to say about the latest battlefront in the American charm offensive.
What the Germans are Saying
AP
In Mainz, the preparations for Bush's visit have been going on for weeks.The German papers haven't kicked into high Bush-coverage mode yet, but then the President isn't expected here until Wednesday, and even then, nothing earth-shaking is likely to come out of his visit. German editorialists are long-practiced in approaching the Bush administration with healthy skepticism, and their comments this time around are no different.
The daily Die Tageszeitung has a long editorial on Washington's exercise of its military options, and writes that for all the charm offensives launched in the last few months, little has changed. "The tone is at least civilized again. That's nice. France will no longer be punished, as Rice recommended, and Germany will no longer be ignored." But that doesn't mean US belief in the use of force has fundamentally changed. There are already many possible areas for new conflicts, "and there won't be fewer of them, but more." The possibility for peaceful solutions in Iran and North Korea certainly exist, but the US hasn't ruled out military intervention. Still, it could choose to work together with Europe. "It's not just about 'the differences of the past.' It's about the frightening path toward another war, one which might one day make everything that has happened in Iraq look harmless."
Germany's second-largest business paper, Financial Times Deutschland, also has a long commentary on the visit. The paper identifies three good reasons why the US and Europe should find the will to work together. To begin with, "on its own, the Super Power doesn't have the money or the know-how to take on the rebuilding of countries like Iraq and Afghanistan -- much less the democratic restructuring of an entire region like the Middle East." Secondly, "Europe's democracies share more values with America than with any other imaginable partners." Thirdly, there's the question of sheer power: "Only a unified Europe can endanger America's worldwide supremacy in the foreseeable future." On the other side, there are a number of disagreements -- chiefly, Iran and the weapons embargo with China -- that speak against working together. "At the core, it's about the US accepting Europe as an equal partner and not automatically expecting to be followed."
REUTERS
Divers inspecting the waterways of Mainz.Finally, Franz Josef Wagner, the tabloid Bild's gap-toothed, daily commentator pens an open letter to Bush. The security surrounding Bush's trip to Mainz is unprecedented, and will essentially shut down the entire city. But Wagner is worried not for Bush's safety, but that the president will get all lonely in the motorcade. "Dear George W. Bush, the loneliness of your Cadillac makes me sad. I'd really like to be able to wave at you. But your security apparatus won't let me."
What the French Are Saying
French papers, too, are generally skeptical about Bush's trip, wondering if it will be more flash than fundament. Still, there is a bit of coy gloating that comes with being the target of so much stroking. The liberal daily Liberation notes that "this week there will no longer be much of the 'forgive the Russians, ignore the Germans and punish the French' recipe that was floating around Washington two years ago. Instead, it will be coddle the French, embrace the Germans and gently remind the Russians about their small digressions in terms of democracy and their friendship with Syria."
The paper says the change in Washington's tone is being looked at with "a mix of interest and skepticism." And, says the paper, "the list of potential disputes remains long, if it is about the nuclear dreams of Iran (a nation with which the US does not want to negotiate), Hezbollah (which France doesn't want to include on the list of terrorist groups) the European project to lift the embargo on the sale of arms to China, the Middle-East crisis, the fight over climate protection, the role of multi-lateral organizations and the repression of war crimes." But, the good thing, notes the paper is that the elections in Iraq went well, and that gives Bush a little boost with Europeans. The main thing, the paper says is that America has to show it is ready to give up unilateralism. Europe has to prove it can sustain a unified role.
REUTERS
Bush in Brussels.The more conservative Le Monde, too, is hard-nosed, applauding German Chancellor Schroeder for urging Bush to witness the "increasing importance" of the European Union during this trip. It also insists that Bush has to stop governing the world as if America is the only nation that matters. "Mr. Bush is welcome in Europe as long as he agrees to a partnership of equals, rather than a relationship of dependence between the American superpower and its European vassals," the paper says. Despite all their differences, though, the truth is that "America needs Europe and Europe needs America."
What the Brits are Saying
And finally, some golden words from Britain's brightest lights.
From the Times: "The recent trip to Europe of Condoleezza Rice in her new role as US Secretary of State has created a buzz of excitement ... So when the president travels to Europe this week to meet Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder and Vladimir Putin, will it be evidence that trans-Atlantic relations are on the mend? Sadly, not so ... Fundamental issues divide the US and continental Europe, and there is little indication that a few days of glad-handing will iron them out."
"At the heart of this rift is the role that both continents see for each other ... America has become the proponent of encouraging -- even imposing -- democracy on tyrannical regimes ... It rightly sees its policy vindicated by elections in both Afghanistan and Iraq ... the bien pensants of Europe remain unconvinced, however, and fearful of America's next move."
The Sunday Telegraph asks "What exactly does this new Euro-American 'cooperation' boil down to when the airy platitudes float gently back to earth? ... The test of this coming week will be whether anybody talks about anything concrete, anything specific, or whether they just dust off the usual blather."
Pullquotes
Two tidbits pulled from the press on the first day of Bush's visit.
The US ambassador to Belgium, Tom C. Korologos, speaking to the International Herald Tribune about having the Bushes as houseguests for three days:
"It's a very big deal. Advance people have been looking and measuring and walking and testing lights and moving chairs for the last two weeks....We go around and dust all the furniture, just like when your mother-in-law's coming over to see you."
Speaking to DER SPIEGEL, Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialist representatives in the EU parliament, was asked whether he though Bush would support Europe's push for a diplomatic solution to the Iran question:
"No. Too much broadcast-consciousness penetrates his speeches. Men like him, who are inspired by a mission, often don't act rationally and therefore become difficult to calculate, sometimes even dangerous. Bush has expressly not ruled out becoming involved militarily in other parts of the world, as he did in Iraq. That is a risky type of politics -- far away from the US, but right on the doorstep of the European Union."
<br>
URL: www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,342967,00.html
Bushwrapped
<br>The Gloves are Off: The European Press on Bush's Visit
Bush has arrived. The plain-spoken US President flew into Brussels on Sunday, the first stop on a five-day fence-mending trip though Europe that will take him to Germany and Slovakia as well. The European press has plenty to say about the latest battlefront in the American charm offensive.
What the Germans are Saying
AP
In Mainz, the preparations for Bush's visit have been going on for weeks.The German papers haven't kicked into high Bush-coverage mode yet, but then the President isn't expected here until Wednesday, and even then, nothing earth-shaking is likely to come out of his visit. German editorialists are long-practiced in approaching the Bush administration with healthy skepticism, and their comments this time around are no different.
The daily Die Tageszeitung has a long editorial on Washington's exercise of its military options, and writes that for all the charm offensives launched in the last few months, little has changed. "The tone is at least civilized again. That's nice. France will no longer be punished, as Rice recommended, and Germany will no longer be ignored." But that doesn't mean US belief in the use of force has fundamentally changed. There are already many possible areas for new conflicts, "and there won't be fewer of them, but more." The possibility for peaceful solutions in Iran and North Korea certainly exist, but the US hasn't ruled out military intervention. Still, it could choose to work together with Europe. "It's not just about 'the differences of the past.' It's about the frightening path toward another war, one which might one day make everything that has happened in Iraq look harmless."
Germany's second-largest business paper, Financial Times Deutschland, also has a long commentary on the visit. The paper identifies three good reasons why the US and Europe should find the will to work together. To begin with, "on its own, the Super Power doesn't have the money or the know-how to take on the rebuilding of countries like Iraq and Afghanistan -- much less the democratic restructuring of an entire region like the Middle East." Secondly, "Europe's democracies share more values with America than with any other imaginable partners." Thirdly, there's the question of sheer power: "Only a unified Europe can endanger America's worldwide supremacy in the foreseeable future." On the other side, there are a number of disagreements -- chiefly, Iran and the weapons embargo with China -- that speak against working together. "At the core, it's about the US accepting Europe as an equal partner and not automatically expecting to be followed."
REUTERS
Divers inspecting the waterways of Mainz.Finally, Franz Josef Wagner, the tabloid Bild's gap-toothed, daily commentator pens an open letter to Bush. The security surrounding Bush's trip to Mainz is unprecedented, and will essentially shut down the entire city. But Wagner is worried not for Bush's safety, but that the president will get all lonely in the motorcade. "Dear George W. Bush, the loneliness of your Cadillac makes me sad. I'd really like to be able to wave at you. But your security apparatus won't let me."
What the French Are Saying
French papers, too, are generally skeptical about Bush's trip, wondering if it will be more flash than fundament. Still, there is a bit of coy gloating that comes with being the target of so much stroking. The liberal daily Liberation notes that "this week there will no longer be much of the 'forgive the Russians, ignore the Germans and punish the French' recipe that was floating around Washington two years ago. Instead, it will be coddle the French, embrace the Germans and gently remind the Russians about their small digressions in terms of democracy and their friendship with Syria."
The paper says the change in Washington's tone is being looked at with "a mix of interest and skepticism." And, says the paper, "the list of potential disputes remains long, if it is about the nuclear dreams of Iran (a nation with which the US does not want to negotiate), Hezbollah (which France doesn't want to include on the list of terrorist groups) the European project to lift the embargo on the sale of arms to China, the Middle-East crisis, the fight over climate protection, the role of multi-lateral organizations and the repression of war crimes." But, the good thing, notes the paper is that the elections in Iraq went well, and that gives Bush a little boost with Europeans. The main thing, the paper says is that America has to show it is ready to give up unilateralism. Europe has to prove it can sustain a unified role.
REUTERS
Bush in Brussels.The more conservative Le Monde, too, is hard-nosed, applauding German Chancellor Schroeder for urging Bush to witness the "increasing importance" of the European Union during this trip. It also insists that Bush has to stop governing the world as if America is the only nation that matters. "Mr. Bush is welcome in Europe as long as he agrees to a partnership of equals, rather than a relationship of dependence between the American superpower and its European vassals," the paper says. Despite all their differences, though, the truth is that "America needs Europe and Europe needs America."
What the Brits are Saying
And finally, some golden words from Britain's brightest lights.
From the Times: "The recent trip to Europe of Condoleezza Rice in her new role as US Secretary of State has created a buzz of excitement ... So when the president travels to Europe this week to meet Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder and Vladimir Putin, will it be evidence that trans-Atlantic relations are on the mend? Sadly, not so ... Fundamental issues divide the US and continental Europe, and there is little indication that a few days of glad-handing will iron them out."
"At the heart of this rift is the role that both continents see for each other ... America has become the proponent of encouraging -- even imposing -- democracy on tyrannical regimes ... It rightly sees its policy vindicated by elections in both Afghanistan and Iraq ... the bien pensants of Europe remain unconvinced, however, and fearful of America's next move."
The Sunday Telegraph asks "What exactly does this new Euro-American 'cooperation' boil down to when the airy platitudes float gently back to earth? ... The test of this coming week will be whether anybody talks about anything concrete, anything specific, or whether they just dust off the usual blather."
Pullquotes
Two tidbits pulled from the press on the first day of Bush's visit.
The US ambassador to Belgium, Tom C. Korologos, speaking to the International Herald Tribune about having the Bushes as houseguests for three days:
"It's a very big deal. Advance people have been looking and measuring and walking and testing lights and moving chairs for the last two weeks....We go around and dust all the furniture, just like when your mother-in-law's coming over to see you."
Speaking to DER SPIEGEL, Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialist representatives in the EU parliament, was asked whether he though Bush would support Europe's push for a diplomatic solution to the Iran question:
"No. Too much broadcast-consciousness penetrates his speeches. Men like him, who are inspired by a mission, often don't act rationally and therefore become difficult to calculate, sometimes even dangerous. Bush has expressly not ruled out becoming involved militarily in other parts of the world, as he did in Iraq. That is a risky type of politics -- far away from the US, but right on the doorstep of the European Union."
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