NEWS: Bush due in Brussels to kiss and make up with Europe

President George W. Bush will arrive in Europe in what is being described as a fence mending visit. It is hoped that the visit can settle issues related to Iraq. However, it is also noted that there are other issues with which the United States and the European Union remain divided. The meeting will be held in the E.U. quarter in Brussels which is being locked down with a high level of security. Both Bush and French President Jacques Chirac are expected to dine together following a speech given by Bush on transatlantic relations.



There remain a large amount of issues that really need to hammered out. From support of Airbus, to trade, to selling weapons to China, no doubt little will be accomplished in this meeting. However with like any process it must start somewhere. Bush will stand up for issues that he feels are important to the United States. It seems that often some countries ideas of diplomacy can be summed up as this: "Give me what I want and I am happy". That happens alot, however, when the U.S. does it we get branded with the moniker "Cowboy diplomacy"

[edit on 20-2-2005 by John bull 1]

[edit on 21-2-2005 by John bull 1]

While I understand the reasoning for the visits, I feel in the end they will mend no fences. He really has to speak to the European people, not their leadership. When doing this he has to actually speak to them and not just give a pre-planned speach that in the end no one will take seriously. At present he speaches seem amusing rather than to have any real content. He needs to convince the common people and that will have to be through question and answers sessions in real time. That is of course if he does really want to mend fences rather than give token statements.

I don't feel this is going to mend any fences, it'll be more of the same feeling the european population got from Rice's whirlwind tour of Europe : American arrogance and the feeling of treating european's as inferior to the US. Bush will ask the EU to tow the line in favour of American interests in China and Iran but I feel that it will be unproductive as the European population yearns for it's own foreign policy platform and agenda instead of jumping when America says how high to.

It also doesn't look good when a friend only comes around to your house when he wants something from you, instead of coming for a visit just because they enjoy your company. Of course it is never really like this in the gritty world of politics, but as heads of state (the personified representative of an entire people) that's what it can look like to the average joe on the street.

thanks,
drfunk


[edit on 20-2-2005 by drfunk]

I'm stationed in Brussels and it was damn hard to get to my assigned place.
Not only is belgiums entire police force mobilized, its crawling with US agents and foreign press.

I sure hope noone planed a tourisme trip to brussels for this week, because they won't be able to see squat.

drfunk,

I guess you're not from USA...It doesn't matter...Cause I'm from Europe...

See I have very big problem with people who tend to forget history whenever it's good to them:

It also doesn't look good when a friend only comes around to your house when he wants something from you

Maybe WWI,WWII,The Cold War,Yugoslavia(Bosnia and Kosovo) are past for you,but not for me...How many US soldiers died for the freedom of Europe?How much US tax-payers invest in securing the Peace in Europe,by suporting 100 000 army on european soil,so the Red Army don't decide to take Europe in a week?Maybe the european states whant to protect the Oceans so there can be a free-trade?
Sometimes I really don't believe there's a God...Why I was born in communist state,and .... like you were born in a free country...Thanks God USA is not Europe,because if it was,I was still marching on 1 of may on the streets to celebrate the communism arrival...Because of Reagan Europe looks like it is now and because of G.W.Bush the Middle East have a chance for a better future...But in Europe the people don't care about freedom,they care how to restore the previous glory,without paying for army and all the other stuff...

When You can't deliver the goods You can't expect the others to take You as a Deliver!!!

Germany and France(the back bone of european future millitary forces) have all together 20 000 soldiers spare to use in time of war outside their borders...that's what I call a true Defender Of Peace...but than it's not important...they have a very big mouth...

IMO, France remains the biggest obstacle to good relations between our two continents. Chirac needs to go. He wants to be perceived as a leader of a superpower, when in reality, he is nothing more than a terror pimp.

His recent refusal to label Hezbollah as terrorists shows his true alliance.

Originally posted by ZMax
drfunk,

I guess you're not from USA...It doesn't matter...Cause I'm from Europe...

See I have very big problem with people who tend to forget history whenever it's good to them:

It also doesn't look good when a friend only comes around to your house when he wants something from you

Maybe WWI,WWII,The Cold War,Yugoslavia(Bosnia and Kosovo) are past for you,but not for me...How many US soldiers died for the freedom of Europe?How much US tax-payers invest in securing the Peace in Europe,by suporting 100 000 army on european soil,so the Red Army don't decide to take Europe in a week?Maybe the european states whant to protect the Oceans so there can be a free-trade?
Sometimes I really don't believe there's a God...Why I was born in communist state,and .... like you were born in a free country...Thanks God USA is not Europe,because if it was,I was still marching on 1 of may on the streets to celebrate the communism arrival...Because of Reagan Europe looks like it is now and because of G.W.Bush the Middle East have a chance for a better future...But in Europe the people don't care about freedom,they care how to restore the previous glory,without paying for army and all the other stuff...

When You can't deliver the goods You can't expect the others to take You as a Deliver!!!

Germany and France(the back bone of european future millitary forces) have all together 20 000 soldiers spare to use in time of war outside their borders...that's what I call a true Defender Of Peace...but than it's not important...they have a very big mouth...

Guess what? what you talk about IS the past. I have a big problem with people who tend to point to previous deeds done in different times that is not relevant to the topic at hand as an excuse to silence opposing thought and opposition. The world has progressed and changed, terrorism is the new communism and Iraq has divided opinions of people across the world. I don't need to listen to some sob story of what a great job America has done in Europe to liberate it from communism and use this as some sort of excuse to let power and opposing opinion go unchecked, frankly it isn't even constructive. The world is a different place now, Europe is once again trying to find it's own place on the world stage. The matter at hand is not history, as if we point to history the United States is obviously the greatest nation to ever grace this earth, but the matter at hand is current affairs.

Bush hurt American-European relations greatly with the handling of the Iraq war and this has after-effects even today. Bush isn't a very popular president in the west and because of the way that the US went to war this caused a rift in betwee what traditionally were staunch allies. I believe that we still see the aftereffects of this today. Many people will look upon any actions by the Bush Administration with skepticism as I know I do.

thanks,
drfunk

Originally posted by jsobecky
IMO, France remains the biggest obstacle to good relations between our two continents. Chirac needs to go. He wants to be perceived as a leader of a superpower, when in reality, he is nothing more than a terror pimp.

His recent refusal to label Hezbollah as terrorists shows his true alliance.

Bush needs to go as well as he remains an even larger obstacle for even better relations between Europe and America. If we get rid of Chirac and Bush it sounds like a good start to me

thanks,
drfunk

drfunk

I don't try to suppress your idea...

I only said that if Europe want to be a Power it needs to have a global millitary presence or at least to be able to put forces in every place on the Globe...and not just enjoying the free-rider effect...Why the Hell the americans have to take you as an equal partner when you are not?
I don't think Europe and USA can be opponents,but to be partners you must have equal participation in that partnership(not only equal rights,but equal responsabilities)...

Actually I really hope one day when the european governments will be so indebted by their inadecuate social system(in current rate 2025),the etnic tensions between the muslim population and the christians will sky-rocked,and the Europe will be dependent of the russian oil-pipeline(like it's now in Eastern Europe)(we call this "The Bear plays the music and the Gypsy is dancing around")...the Americans will do nothing...

When Europe is ready to take the responsabilities on the International arena,and have the means and the will to equal the USA ones,I'm absolutly sure the USA President will notice that USA has a full partner...I'm sure about that...

drfunk: dude, you just pritty much said what I have been trying to construct a thread about for almost a week now.

That past goods don't justify current evils.

I'm also sick of people trying to shut up europeans with the "hey hey, we saved your asses" which in itself isn't 100% true either, since the force that liberated Europe WAS NOT just the US.

It's obvious that one man and one nation alone can not fight terror, or go invading nations and then left alone to fix the problems that comes after it.

We are after all one earth and many nations, we have to compromised and try to get together for the well being of everybody, I hope is no to late.

Well, I think drfunk is pretty-much on the button. Americans are popular abroad (EU), its the present US Administration and some of its Foreign Policies that won't ever sit well in the EU. Kiss and Make up?, No.
Kiss A__ and go home - maybe.
Dallas

Originally posted by drfunk
Bush needs to go as well as he remains an even larger obstacle for even better relations between Europe and America. If we get rid of Chirac and Bush it sounds like a good start to me

Bush is willing to mend alliances. The one thing he will not do is negotiate with terrorists. It is impossible with someone like Chirac, who wants to be a world leader but has nothing for collateral except his alliances with terrorists.

Maby not trying to distance eachother (the EU and US) will help things

Actualy get both the EU and US to actually tollerate eachother willfully instead of just looking at eachother as "inferiors" i get that impression from both sides of EU and US leaders (Especially the French Leader mainly is the European relations blocking) i carnt remember european people overall making him the european "leader" however he seems to act like it

Afterall US was once part of English rule just like a lot of europe and so forth

However times change, maby we should remember that our leaders overall do not represent the people as such in issues where their own egos are involved

Dallas,
unfortunatly you are not right...USA is not popular in Europe at all...Let me give you an example:

TUI one of the biggest tourist companies in Germany bought 10 planes from Boeing,and received many angry e-mails,why they don't want to buy Airbus...Well from my nephew in USA I know such things are not happaning there...

Lot of US companies here,in Europe,are trying to hide their country of origin,because of the so called "euro-nationalism"(against America)...The Europeans hate your pop-culture,hate your cometitiveness,hate your world dominantion,hate your presidents(Reagan,Clinton,Bush are all the same here,they are the face of something europeans hate - personification)..you simply have no idea...Why do you think the most richest market(still) in The World is having trade surplus with you?

Dallas,

don't get me wrong...if given the chance to live in USA 75% of the Europeans will gladely take it...

Bush due in Brussels to kiss and make up with Europe

Really? How about Bush is going to Europe to simply tell them to get on board the same train and if not, that Europe will continue to remain irrelevant. There is no love lost between Bush and Chirac and I definately do not see Bush kissing and making-up with him. More like: "Now that I am face-to-face with you Mr. Chirac, you got what to say to and about me?!"

I'm looking to see Europe do the "kissing and making-up"....




seekerof

Originally posted by Seekerof
Bush due in Brussels to kiss and make up with Europe

Really? How about Bush is going to Europe to simply tell them to get on board the same train and if not, that Europe will continue to remain irrelevant. There is no love lost between Bush and Chirac and I definately do not see Bush kissing and making-up with him. More like: "Now that I am face-to-face with you Mr. Chirac, you got what to say to and about me?!"

I'm looking to see Europe do the "kissing and making-up"....

seekerof

Europe is far from irrelevant, Americas opinions are irrelevant in Europe. France is not the only country in Europe, so keep your French bashing out of this. (all of you, not seekerof).

Bush has alot to do if he wants Europe to remain on friendly terms and trust needs to be built again. It is his actions, right or wrong depending on your opinions, have caused this ever growing rift.

Bush and therefore his opinions and the administrations opinions have become to be seen as a joke in many European countries. He just is not listened to anymore.

You will not see Europe doing any kissing, sorry. It appears that Bush thinks he needs Europes alliance, he has much making up to do. You don't see Europeans making this kind of announcent about going to the US to mend fences.

Originally posted by ZMax
Dallas,
unfortunatly you are not right...USA is not popular in Europe at all...Let me give you an example:

TUI one of the biggest tourist companies in Germany bought 10 planes from Boeing,and received many angry e-mails,why they don't want to buy Airbus...Well from my nephew in USA I know such things are not happaning there...

When those euros realize that competition allows the best to rise to the top, then they will have taken the first step out of the darkness of socialism.

Lot of US companies here,in Europe,are trying to hide their country of origin,because of the so called "euro-nationalism"(against America)...The Europeans hate your pop-culture,hate your cometitiveness,hate your world dominantion,hate your presidents(Reagan,Clinton,Bush are all the same here,they are the face of something europeans hate - personification)..you simply have no idea...Why do you think the most richest market(still) in The World is having trade surplus with you?

I do not believe for a moment that US companies are trying to hide their country of origin. As for euros hating everything American, I doubt that is true. I think that is more of your own hatred of America than anything else. And guess what - we don't care if you hate us, ZMax.

The force that Toppled Hitler was Russian, not American. Also, blameing Chirac/France for Bushes screwups/pissing off the world is wrong, just cause he a frog doesn't mean he has no balls, after all could really be a french woman.(joke, I am part french, so like Chris Rock allowed to make fun of blacks, I am allowed to make fun of french)