[The Toronto Star, Canada]
Le Figaro, France
President Obama: 'What a Change for
the Alliance!'
"If America has moved closer to Europe, the opposite movement is just as real. ... What a change in the style and manner of doing things! Within days, Obama will have laid the foundations of a new transatlantic alliance."
Editorial by Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Mary Kenney
April 4, 2009
France - Le Figaro - Original Article
(French)
In
a changing world, transatlantic relations also must change. After offering his
pledge at the G20 to follow a multilateral approach on the global economy, at
Strasbourg, Barack Obama has dedicated himself to reinforcing the Atlantic
Alliance.
The
American president had a little more than two months to prepare for the
NATO summit. That's very little time, given the energy he has had to dedicate to
the economic crisis.
The new administration's diplomacy is still under construction, in
Afghanistan as well as toward Russia, Iran or the Middle East. But already,
what a change in the style and manner of doing things!
Barack
Obama, before French and German students gathered at Strasbourg, showed himself
to be a real performer, just as he did when he regaled Americans during the
election campaign. He has no equal in seducing his audience with elegance and
humility, recognizing America's past mistakes to get across his real message:
"Europe should not simply expect the United States to shoulder the burden
alone." [Actually, President Obama, in reference to Afghanistan, said,
"Europe should not simply expect the United States to shoulder that
burden alone." Read
Full Text or Watch Below]
Barack
Obama is too adroit to make public demands of his allies that they aren’t ready
to fulfill. The fact remains that the European contribution in Afghanistan and
elsewhere will be appreciated in Washington in its merits. In this case, they
have agreed to send a few hundred police officers to help build up the Afghan
police force.
Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US
That
being the case, with Obama, European defense is no longer a source of suspicion
in Washington: the allies instead are to be encouraged to do more.
President Obama holds a town-hall meeting in Strasbourg,
France, Apr. 3. WATCH 
As
for the war in Afghanistan, it is being transformed, at least in the way it's
presented. The "new strategy" announced at the White House on March
27 integrates many concerns that Europeans have for years advocated in vain:
the solution is not military but political, so the approach should be regional
and include Pakistan - the "Afghanization" of the war is an absolute
priority ...
If
America has moved closer to Europe, the opposite movement is just as real. In
resuming its place within NATO's integrated command, France is playing a
leading role. Nicolas Sarkozy was warmly thanked by Barack Obama, and the two
heads of state have been able to announce an understanding presented as
"perfect."
The
sixtieth anniversary of the Atlantic Alliance, which is being held at
Strasbourg and Kiel [Germany], also has a strong Franco-German
harmonization.
Before
their American partner, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel have another chance
to showcase their unity, already evident at the G20 in London. This harmony,
illustrated by the installation in France of a German Army unit, is a pillar of
European defense.
On
Sunday, Barack Obama will be in Prague for the European Union-United States
summit. Within days, he will have laid the foundations of a new transatlantic
alliance.
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH VERSION
[Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US April 4, 6:59pm]
