"In
five days, more than just a new leader, it is the face of a new America that
has been offered to Europe. Self-assured and charismatic but without a hint of
arrogance, Barack Obama has achieved a perfect score in winning the confidence
and respect of European leaders and public opinion. A real challenge, after
eight years of Bush. … This is what history will record."
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.
There
were a few dark stains on the happy family photos. Yesterday afternoon during the
NATO summit, a few kilometers from the Palais des Congres in Strasbourg where
NATO heads of state and government were gathered, rioters set fire to a
pharmacy, the Office of Tourism and the Hotel Ibis near the Pont de l'Europe [the
European bridge]. There were over 10,000 demonstrators, including about 1,000 who
were particularly violent [Black-Blockers].
Although it was under the smoke of tear gas and flames that Barack Obama left
Strasbourg last night for Prague, where the U.S.-E.U. Summit reconvenes today, the
president's sojourn in Europe has been flawless since his arrival in London on
Wednesday.
MAN OF THE LEFT TO REINFORCE CAPITALISM
The
Obama style turns its back on years of American arrogance. Thursday at the G20
summit in London, it was a man of the left who led the way to the salvation of
the global economy and the debut of "a new era of capitalism,"
according to [British Prime Minister] Gordon Brown. Protectionism was formally rejected.
The Europeans, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel hand in hand, have obtained a
more transparent capitalism: "A great psychological success - a process
got under way this week that can restore confidence," confided economist Christian de Boissieu.
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WORLDMEETS.US
ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY, A NEW DEAL
With
the return of France [to NATO], the Atlantic family was reunited for its
sixtieth anniversary. Barack echoed the martial tone adopted eight days earlier
in an address aimed at the Taliban "We are united, we are strong, you will
not defeat us," he declared. "United" and "strong": the
allies of the United States, which had to be begged to participate in the war
effort, will deploy an additional 5,000 soldiers in Afghanistan. America is
back, and its allies in Old Europe will all be at its side.
[Editor's
Note: This quote could not be confirmed, but President Obama did say, in regard to terrorists his
inaugural address, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you
cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."]
America,
led by Barack Obama, wants to promote the art of compromise. An approach that
he summarized at the close of his press
conference with Nicolas Sarkozy: "We're not looking to be the patron
of Europe. We're looking to be partners with Europe. … We want strong allies."
The
44th president of the United States knows that dialogue entails mutual
concessions. While offering a success to his allies in the G20, he required a concrete
effort on the part of the Alliance. And if he spoke of war yesterday, Barack
Obama has continued to play the peacemaker. For example, Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose veto delayed the approval of Anders Fohg Rasmussen
as NATO secretary general, underlines the role of "guarantor" that the
American president promises to play. Obama will be in Turkey on Monday and
Tuesday.
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APPLAUDED BY YOUNG PEOPLE
The
strongest image of his visit to France will remain the astonishing meeting with
French and German students, who were gathered at Strasbourg on Friday
afternoon. A short speech and a half-hour of questions and answers improvised
by a leader on the same wavelength as his questioners. It had been almost a
half-century - since Kennedy the "Berliner" - that a president of the
United States has been so applauded by 3,000 students.
President
Obama speaks to students at a town hall meeting in
"If
you only think about yourself - how much money can I make, what can I buy, how
nice is my house, what kind of fancy car do I have - over the long term I think
you get bored." What leader since the death of [Pope] John Paul II can excite
a room full of young people by extolling the virtues of family and calling a
generation to give of themselves and exhibit generosity?
In five days, Barack Obama has erased eight
years of Bush. More than just a new leader, it is the face of a new America
that has been offered to Europe. The Obama style has seduced - from London to
Strasbourg, from Kehl to Baden-Baden - relaxed and charismatic, with an assurance
devoid of arrogance. Despite the violence Saturday evening, this is what history
will record.
