Obama bemoans 'drift' between Europe and US

[Darsh]

US President Barack Obama said on Friday that US-European relations had been allowed to "drift", hitting out at anti-European feeling in the United States and "insidious" anti-Americanism on the continent.

"We must be honest with ourselves," Obama said, in remarks meant to help in a new rapprochement between the United States and Europe following the tensions which soured the administration of former president George W. Bush.

"In recent years, we've allowed our alliance to drift," Obama said in a campaign-style town hall meeting on the France-Germany border city of Strasbourg, ahead of the 60th anniversary NATO summit.

"I know that there have been honest disagreements over policies, but we also know there is something more that has crept into our relationship.

"In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world, instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America's showed arrogance."

But he warned that in Europe "there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious."

http://www.france24.com/en/20090403-...ween-europe-us

[Aru]

"In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world..."

When did Europe take the leading role?
It's just sweet talk, or whatever the expression is, so that he can come home and announce America is loved again.

[Ummon]

Obama is a colossal fool. I can't manage to take the US seriously after you have elected him. Bush was a disaster but he had some speck of nonsensical presidential appearance to him. Farewell US.

[Barry Goldwater]

I was not aware Europe just seized the leading role in the world

[The Dude]

Doesn't Obama just mean that we, as in "The West" are together performing a leading role in the world? And that therefore, Europe is. America is, etc?

[eddy_purpus]

I was not aware Europe just seized the leading role in the world

They took the leading role of dumb ing hypocrites ( politicians) that is

[The Longbowman]

The French hate everyone - It's just their way. If I were Mr Obama, I wouldn't let it get to me.

Personally I think Barack Obama has been a breath of fresh air. A charming and charismatic man, who is obviously intelligent. Give the guy a bloody chance!

[IrishHitman]

The French hate everyone - It's just their way. If I were Mr Obama, I wouldn't let it get to me.

Personally I think Barack Obama has been a breath of fresh air. A charming and charismatic man, who is obviously intelligent. Give the guy a bloody chance!

Eh, no one hates the Irish except certain Dutch people and certain Brits.

Anti-Americanism is usually the paranoid delusion of Americans.

Either that, or it barely extends beyond irritance.
It's not "let's kill the Yanks" hatred, it's "that guy won't shut up"...

[Darsh]

For the first time in 8 years, an American President says an intelligent thing contrary to the politic of the "Freedom fries" of the last one.

Chapeau bas Monsieur Obama.

[alhoon]

It seems like common sense things to say.

It happens rarely, but I agree with you here.

If you are a naive egotistical european, then yes. Common sense.

You're sore loosers. But if you're a naive egoistical USA citizen, then no, it's not common sense.

For the first time in 8 years, an American President says an intelligent thing contrary to the politic of the "Freedom fries" of the last one.

Chapeau bas Monsieur Obama.

For those that think that Obama's foreign policy sucks:Check what all us non-Americans think about your current administration. Then check what we used to think about your former administration.

[Scar Face]

For those that think that Obama's foreign policy sucks:Check what all us non-Americans think about your current administration. Then check what we used to think about your former administration.

It's been two months and Obama's foreign policy is practically identical with Bush's...so....

[Svaline]

The French hate everyone - It's just their way. If I were Mr Obama, I wouldn't let it get to me.

A well thought out and unbiased comment, a rare sight in the mudpit.

[Ummon]

I was not aware Europe just seized the leading role in the world

You should have looked at Obama's and Brown's faces and how they actually were begging continental leaders at the G8....

[Scar Face]

God Obama is such a ****ing tool.

[Dr. Croccer]

He's probably saying Europe has a leading role, not the.

Christ people.

[Mythre]

Yikes!

Seriously... He has been systematically destroying the benefit of the doubt i was extending him....

Say what you want about Bush, at least he had dignity!

Obama foreign policy stinks so far

[removeduser_487563287433]

It seems like common sense things to say.

[Boyar Son]

It seems like common sense things to say.

sike.

China has more say and weight than europe.

[The Dude]

sike.

China has more say and weight than europe.

Robert DeNiro has done more movies than Al Pacino. What's your point?

[Boyar Son]

Robert DeNiro has done more movies than Al Pacino. What's your point?

lol? you serious?

muh point is China.Has.More.Say.

they get away with alot of things, even if US says something. But europe, since when do you hear of them do anything spectacular or demanding on the political scale?

But I do admit, for the size of europe, their complaints reach anywhere.