Salon: The Ugly American (Bush*s trip to Rome)

[kskiska]

When Bush arrives in Rome for the start of a series of meetings with European leaders, it won't exactly be la dolce vita.

President Bush heads to Europe this week, the beginning of a monthlong diplomatic whirlwind. He starts with a visit to Rome to see the pope and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, heads to France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, returns to Sea Island, Ga., for the G-8 summit of major industrialized nations and then goes back to Europe for summits with the European Union in Ireland and with NATO in Turkey.

Ordinarily, a first-term incumbent in the homestretch of his bid for reelection would relish a month of high-profile summitry. Americans like their president to be presidential, and globe-trotting on Air Force One usually fits the bill.

But these events will be anything but an opportunity for Bush to revel in diplomatic achievements. The gathering in Normandy is meant to celebrate America's strategic bond with Europe, but holding a eulogy for the Atlantic alliance would be more fitting. The leaders of the G-8 nations will no doubt maintain a facade of unity and declare their shared commitment to bringing about political reform in the Middle East, but only by skirting around the immediate crises in Iraq and in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. At both the E.U. and NATO summits, Bush will be greeted by leaders and publics alike that are deeply skeptical and resentful of Washington's bravado and bluster.

Europe today is home to a rising tide of angry anti-American sentiment. Recent polling by the Pew Research Center indicates that almost two-thirds of the public in France and Germany hold an "unfavorable" opinion of the United States. America's standing in the world has plummeted under Bush's watch, and the Atlantic alliance has been stretched to the breaking point.

more…
http://salon.com/opinion/feature/2004/06/02/allies/index.html

[rebellious woman]

1. Not their fault. What we have is an "empty stetson &

horses ass representing mrka, how low we have fallen.

[Beetwasher]

2. He's Loathed Everywhere He Goes, Even Here In The US Now

It's starting to happen...

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Memo to European DUers . . . .

Please be sure to give our commandeer-in-thief a warm welcome while he's there. We want something our fair and balanced media can't ignore.

[Kellanved]

4. we'll do what we can

However with the D-Day commemoration approaching it will get quiet -at least the more "respectable" groups won't continue then.


Video/Article about Rome getting ready ;-) .
http://www.euronews.net/create_html.php?page=accueil_info&lng=1&option=0,home