Saturday - April 04, 2009

Barack Obama: ‘arrogant US has been dismissive’ to allies, makes apology for Bush years.

Oh boy ...
Now wait a minute. He did also say that Euro-peons misjudged us and blamed America for everything wrong in the world when in fact we have done much good.
BUT ... according to the morning paper in front of me ...
Well here.  Read it for yourself.

Barack Obama: ‘arrogant US has been dismissive’ to allies
President Barack Obama has offered an apology for the Bush era, declaring that America had “shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive” towards its allies.

By Toby Harnden in Strasbourg
Last Updated: 8:37PM BST 03 Apr 2009

President Obama said the US had “failed to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world”.

His speech in Strasbourg went further than any United States president in history in criticising his own country’s action while standing on foreign soil.

But he sought to use the mea culpa as leverage to alter European views of America and secure more troops for the war in Afghanistan.

He declared that there had to be a fundamental shift on both sides of the Atlantic. “America is changing but it cannot be America alone that changes,” he said.

Addressing a crowd of some 2,000 mainly students from France and Germany, Mr Obama said: “In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world.

“Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.”

He then balanced this striking admission with a tough message to Europeans that blaming America was foolish.

“But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual, but can also be insidious. Instead of recognising the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what is bad.

“On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. They do not represent the truth. They threaten to widen the divide across the Atlantic and leave us both more isolated. They fail to acknowledge the fundamental truth that America cannot confront the challenges of this century alone, but that Europe cannot confront them without America.”

Earlier, Mr Obama had thrown down the gauntlet to his European counterparts, saying: “We want strong allies. We are not looking to be patrons of Europe. We are looking to be partners of Europe.”

Mr Obama lauded France as America’s “oldest ally, our first ally” and hailed Mr. Sarkozy’s “initiative, imagination, creativity.” Returning the compliment, Mr Sarkozy spoke of a new White House occupant who wanted to “change the world” and was not concerned only with narrow American self interest.

But behind Mr Obama’s charm was a tough message that Europe needed to do more, particularly in Afghanistan where the US is sending 21,000 more troops.

“It is probably more likely that al Qaeda would be able to launch a serious terrorist attack on Europe than on the United States because of proximity,” Mr Obama said.

“We would like to see Europe have much more robust capabilities. That’s not something we discourage.”

Mr Obama said that Nato would remain the bedrock of American foreign policy but made clear he believed it should not be a one-way street.

“Nato is the most successful alliance in modern history. And the basic premise of Nato was that Europe’s security was the United States’ security and vice versa.”

Mr Sarkozy praised Mr Obama for pledging to close the Guantanamo Bay prison: “Guantanamo was not in keeping with US values”, adding that using “terrorist methods” was not a way to defeat terrorism.

The American president responded: “I made the decision to close Guantanamo because I don’t think it makes America safer.”

WTF!  Just why the ‘F’ should Sarko care about Guantanamo? Why is that the business of the French or any other fuckin foreigner?
Oh and France is in such great shape too. uh Huh.  And BO thinks closing the place makes American safer.  Has anyone heard any reason why that should be so?  I haven’t but then I do miss a lot.

Mr Obama took the opportunity to warn North Korea that it should abandon its “provocative” plans to launch a long-range rocket. He said he had made clear the reclusive Stalinist state should “stop the launch” or the US would “take appropriate steps to let North Korea know that it can’t threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity”.

Well ok I can understand that and very soon now BO will kiss ass and apologize to No.Korea and all will be well in the world. Bah!

TELEGRAPH

This was not a bad speech but decide for yourselves.

I still miss Ronnie! Am waiting for Palin.

Posted by peiper     on 04/04/2009 at 03:39 AM   
Filed Under: • International • News-Briefs • Obama, The One •  
• Comments (3) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

DISCLAIMER

THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE HOSTS OF THIS SITE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS.

Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

THE INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPLICABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THEN THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS FROM THAT COUNTRY AND ANY PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SUCH LAWS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO USE OUR SERVICES UNLESS THEY CAN SATISFY US THAT SUCH USE WOULD BE LAWFUL.

Copyright © 2004-2015 Domain Owner