Are America And Europe Now Friends? Maybe Not For Long
By Clive Crook, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Feb. 18, 2005
When George W. Bush visits Europe next week, the mood will be much friendlier than of late. Condoleezza Rice and even the normally blunt-speaking Donald Rumsfeld have prepared the president's way, conducting what by this administration's standards is a charm offensive on European capitals. And the Europeans seem quite willing to be charmed: They, too, are smiling sweetly. What has changed, all of a sudden? Perhaps less than you might think.
What separates the U.S. and Europe is not just differences in style, but differences in substance -- some that are intractable
Of course, it is good that the United States and Europe are on better terms. Of course, it is desirable that they should cooperate, where they have foreign-policy goals in common (and they do have some in common). Still, nobody need get carried away. What continues to separate the United States and Europe is not just differences in style, much as these may infuriate both sides, but differences in substance -- lots of them, and some that are intractable. Next week's speeches and handshakes might glide over that fact, but they will not change it.
http://nationaljournal.com/crook.htm
By Clive Crook, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Feb. 18, 2005
When George W. Bush visits Europe next week, the mood will be much friendlier than of late. Condoleezza Rice and even the normally blunt-speaking Donald Rumsfeld have prepared the president's way, conducting what by this administration's standards is a charm offensive on European capitals. And the Europeans seem quite willing to be charmed: They, too, are smiling sweetly. What has changed, all of a sudden? Perhaps less than you might think.
What separates the U.S. and Europe is not just differences in style, but differences in substance -- some that are intractable
Of course, it is good that the United States and Europe are on better terms. Of course, it is desirable that they should cooperate, where they have foreign-policy goals in common (and they do have some in common). Still, nobody need get carried away. What continues to separate the United States and Europe is not just differences in style, much as these may infuriate both sides, but differences in substance -- lots of them, and some that are intractable. Next week's speeches and handshakes might glide over that fact, but they will not change it.
http://nationaljournal.com/crook.htm
