U.S. News & World Report has a feature on the U.S. relationship with Europe focusing on European expectations of President-Elect Obama. The report includes a look at U.S. policy toward Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Cuba. Political pundits inside the Washington beltway used to ask how long the new president's honeymoon would last, now Obama has to wonder how long his honeymoon with Europe will last.
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Dear FPA,
Indeed Europe is more than exited and infatuated by America once again. What you have now shown, is the true strengh of American ideals and beliefs. From Denmark America allways was a double faced nation - both the carrier of the highest human aspirations and hopes, and at the same time the place of violence, cynicism and (only) the survival of the strong.
Now, with Obama, I am again a true believer. This is why you won both WWII and the Cold War: because you can stand up for values of respect and appreciation of the differences amoung people (racial, religious etc.) - and still be able to establish an idea of a common purpose.
My plea is now for the Obama administration to support those friends in Europe that truly stand for the ideals that Obama also stands for. Please do not support former supporters of George W. Bush to urgently. The Prime Minsiter of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen has without any hesitation supported the Bush administration in a way that has shown him to be unable to understand and react to the serious problems of the Bush adminstration.
Now Fogh Rasmussen is trying to become the new head of NATO. Please bear in mind - that his government is only in place because of an ultra right wing party - the Danish Peoples Party - that openly calls muslims “a pest over Europe” and has suggested to “through out the muslims from airplanes without parachutes.” This is a party that Fogh supports and protects. Additionally he has not rejected his fellow government members (Helge Adam Möller and others) that openly has supported torture in the war on terrrorisme.
Fogh Rasmussen has openly stated that George W. Bush was “a great invironmentalist” and has appointed an extreem environment hostile socalled economist - Björn Lomborg - to a central position in defining tje Danish environmental action. Now Fogh Rasmussen is trying to play the role of an environmentalist himself - but has lost respect in his home country as such.
Just to be clear. Anders Fogh Rasmussen is not able to see what is prudent and just - not even in open cases of racism and anti-muslim utterings. This person would not be suitable for a high position in our common defense organisation. He is not only a Bush supporter - far more he is not able to deal with - and stop - open racisme and religious discrimination.
He should not be appointed leader of NATO at any time. This position calls for a person with higher standards.
Jesper, thank you for your comment. I’m sure many readers are not familiar with Rasmussen, your insight will certainly be helpful in providing a fresh perspective on the issue of NATO leadership.
Dear Joel and others,
Thank you for your comment. Just an additional observation is that Fogh Rasmussens treatment of the “Cartoon Crisis” is a highly controversial issue in the Danish public debate. The reaction from a large number of muslim countries after the publication of the cartoons of Muhammed, was to try an establish a diplomatic contact to Denmark through the legal channels - ie. ambassadors and diplomats. Anders Fogh Rasmussens reaction was to refuse even a meeting with these ambassadors. This created a very angry athmosphere not just amoung the people of the muslim countries, but by his action Rasmussen stood as hostile to an open dialogue with the legal representatives of these nations. This attitude will not be helpfull from the comming leader of NATO - especially in times, where a dialogue with the muslim world is the only way ahead. Again - please stay faithfull to the Obama line - and do not support the cynicisme and non-dialogue ways of Rasmussen.
Jesper, thank you for your comment. To bring this back around to our U.S. Role topic, from what I can tell the Danish prime minister has been a good friend to the U.S. over the course of his career, I would not judge him solely on the basis of that that cartoon controversy.
Well - sometimes Europe is the watchdog vis a vis the USA, and sometimes you have been the watchdog vis a vis Europe. The current debate in Denmark includes the many warnings on all levels against George W. Bush's breaks of the Geneva-Convention in Guantanamo and elsewhere. In this situation Europe was the watchdog vis a vis a curruption in the US policy. In the present situation the U.S. Role in the world may be positive again - being a true and ethical watchdog again. You have failed in the past 5-6 years. Now is the time to stand up for some true values again. This is my plea for the U.S. Role vis a vis Europe. In this case the leader of NATO is to be appointed soon. Maybe you should consider not supporting a supporter of your failure - but support some other qualified person who suits your better heritage and maybe future successes. In America I understand, that each new administration appoints new officials. You may choose Rasmussen as the NATO chief for the same reasons that Obama chose some of his staff from the republican administration. But this must rest on a judgement of character of the individual candidate too.
I would like to add in this fora - that off cause the western world, and in particular the USA, has faced new and very difficult challenges in the last years since 9/11 2001. I would like to express my understanding for the difficulty in choosing the right way to deal with these issues. My choice of words was too harsh. You have not just failed, but also grown with the challenges. My hopes are, that with Obama's words - the West can now face the challenges with a strength of spirit - rather than just a strength of arms.
Reading the news in Denmark - I can inform the readers that according to Danish newspapers, Anders Fogh Rasmussen is not accepting the position as chief of NATO at this moment allthough he officially has been offered the position. I have not seen his reasons for this choice. He states that he wishes to stay as Prime Minister for Denmark for the time being.
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