Thursday, January 23, 2003

How petty and pitiful so much of Europe has become. After months of haranguing and nastiness emanating from Paris and Berlin, Rumsfeld makes some comments abut how unhelpful Germany and France have been and how many of the other nations of Europe are being more cooperative and it is used by French and German officials to prove American 'arrogance'. Could you imagine if US officials used the same sort of language to describe France and Germany?

"If you knew what I feel like telling him, to Mr. Rumsfeld ... " said Ecology Minister Roselyne Bachelot on Europe-1 radio. She then stopped herself and said the word would be too offensive to publish.

That is constructive and non-simplisme? How would this sort of comment have been reported if Ashcroft had said it?

Martine Aubry, a Socialist leader and influential former labor minister, said Rumsfeld's comments "show once again a certain arrogance of the United States." Washington "continues to want to alone govern the world and more and more without rules," she told RTL radio.

In what way do these people think this will help bring their views to the table with the American Administration? Oh well Martine says we are arrogant and want to be the lone ruler of the world. We better start a dialogue immediately.

And what were Rumsfeld's extraordinarily arrogant remarks?

"Germany has been a problem and France has been a problem ... but you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe, they're not with France and Germany on this. They're with the United States," he said.

In responding to a reporter's question about French and German qualms, Rumsfeld hinted the United States would turn to new NATO members in Eastern Europe for support.

"You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't," he said. "I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east and there are a lot of new members."

So much worse than what has been said about im and Bush and other Administration officials and American citizens by the French and Germans, no? Spiteful hissy-fits will not win any Americans to your cause. If you have something constructive agive it don't just whine and bitch. Especially when Rumsfeld says something that is demonstrably true. The day before he says is France and Germany announce, before even hearing the report from Blix and any additional information that the US and Britain will release, that they will not vote for any action against Iraq then say the UNSC must decide? And as for the center of gravity of NATO, look at the growth rates of the Eastern European economies entering the alliance. They are dynamic and fully prepared to become big time players. If France and Germany don't see that they will be left in the dust.

Update:

French Economy Minister Francis Mer says he is "deeply offended" by Mr Rumsfeld's remarks, while Environment Minister Roselyne Bachelot employed "Cambronne" (a polite French reference for s***), used as a term of defiance.

Had an American Cabinet member gone on record as saying French and German policy regarding Iraq is shit, do you think it would be classified by the media as 'defiance'?

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