A Bad European Trip and A Real Bad Taste for America
02/27/2005
Paul Munnis
The European visit last week by George Bush went so badly that Americans need to be very concerned about it. Our ability to deal with Europe has ceased for the moment.
European politicians are very aware of the feelings of their constituents towards G.W. Bush and frankly they can’t afford to be seen trafficking with him.
It’s even worse, they don’t want to do business with him.
It’s even worse yet because they feel anti-American now after Americans reelected Bush to office. In 2000 it was a case of a stolen election. In 2004 it’s a case of an elected official. So they are not just against Bush now, they are turning ugly towards Americans too over voting for him. We are now seen as a fascist nation by most of Europe.
Our currency being allowed to float is creating chaos with the European economies.
The war in Iraq is unpopular and Europeans understand the immoral nature of our presence in Iraq. They also understand the American power play for oil.
America has lost its moral persuasion with Europe. Condoleeza Rice might just as well shut down the European embassies for all the good they will do us over the next four years.
In Russia, Putin made an absolute fool out of Bush. He was visibly angry about the public lecture that Bush gave him on how to run his nation. It was certainly arrogant at the least and stupid too. Diplomacy for America was set back by about 10 to 15 years by this visit. Some may ask - “so what.” Well, the answer lies in Russia as the supplier of oil and natural gas to Europe. You just don’t do business with a major oil supplier that way. Putin’s next stop is to render atomic energy development aid to Iran.
The Russian people do not love Bush anymore than the rest of Europe does either.
It’s good that Americans can now directly see the result of American Foreign Policy and get past the propaganda statements issued by our government.
American Democracy is being made a laughingstock of in the rest of the world by these foreign policy incompetents as they talk the talk but do not walk the walk.