Europeans and Obama: As Though 'Friendship Were a One-Way Street'
"Something doesn’t fit when
Europeans cheer for Barack Obama, but reject his appeal for more government
investment to confront the global crisis as a 'road to hell. … During Obama’s
tour it will become apparent who is just part of the claque seeking to bask in
the newcomer's popularity - and who is serious about a new beginning for
transatlantic cooperation."
Queen Elizabeth II with some of the leaders of the G20 countries: Seated at right, President of Brazil Luiz Innacio Lula da Silva. Behind them from left are Kgalema Motlanthe, President of South Africa; Prime Minister of Japan Taro Aso, and President Barack Obama.
Back in the USA, Barack
Obama’s messiah-like approval ratings have already begun to fall to earth, but
the rapture remains in Europe.
Over the next few days as
Obama travels across Europe for the first time as U.S. president, he can be sure
of one thing: his fans on this side of the Atlantic will welcome him as
enthusiastically as they did in the summer of 2008, when candidate Obama allowed
Europeans to dream of a new beginning for transatlantic relations.
Meanwhile,
Europe's spring fever stands in sharp contrast to the sense of cool
disenchantment felt by the Americans. Certainly it's no surprise that two
months after Obama assumed office, it's clear that the transition in Washington
hasn't made all transatlantic conflicts of interest magically disappear.
Astonishingly however, differences
over Afghanistan, which had been regarded as a breaking point for renewed unity,
haven't surfaced. The point of contention is whether all of the industrialized
nations are doing enough to combat the economic crisis.
It's no surprise that
Europeans have renewed a friendship that so far has been like a one-way street.
From their perspective, they were among those who had the right attitude under
Obama’s predecessor. Which is why, in their view, it's time for the USA come
over to their side. And Obama has done so - from regulation of the financial
markets to climate policy. On the other hand, Europe has hardly budged and behaves
as though there's still a president in the White House with no real interest in
partnership. Those, whoever, who want a genuinely new beginning in relations
with Washington, must also be prepared to take on a fair share of the burden.
Of course that applies to the
stabilization of Afghanistan. But it applies much more to economic policy,
which is what the G20 Summit is all about. Something doesn’t fit when Europeans
cheer for Barack Obama, but reject his appeal for more government investment to
confront the global crisis as a “road to hell,” without wanting to talk it over
seriously.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
During Obama’s European tour
it will become apparent who is just part of the claque seeking to bask in the
newcomer's popularity - and who is serious about a new beginning for
transatlantic cooperation. Those who wish to align themselves with the second
group cannot face Obama with empty hands.
![[The Independent, U.K.]](http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00159/cartoon020409_159021a.jpg){kind=link}