President Obama is winding up his first official foray to Europe. His speech in Strasbourg contained a curious confession: “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.” Watch the video clip to hear his comment in context.
Obama is making an admission intended to bolster Europe's interest in partnering. Being dismissive involves rejecting serious consideration of another's proposals. Derision adds contempt, ridicule and scorn upon those whose suggestions have been dismissed. The President is trying to win points in Europe by declaring that America has hastily brushed aside some of Europe's proposals. At times, their suggestions have been met with American mockery or disdain.
Some might applaud the President for his attempt to patch up relations with Europe and praise him for his humble confession. Is his gesture worthy of such praise? Let's assume for purposes of argument that America is guilty as charged of being dismissive and derisive. Let's also assume that Europe has been nothing but purely reasonable and gracious toward the US. Assume that America has responded to Europe's consistently noble gestures by being churlish cowboys. Let's also assume that nothing Europe proposed warranted a dismissal. Only sensible proposals begging to be honestly debated by reasonable men have come from their lips.
Yes, those are a lot of assumptions, mostly gratuitous. But assume for a moment that they are true. Even in that moment, the President's apology is not a personal confession. He is NOT saying, "I have been dismissive, even derisive." His "admission" is a form of accusing others. He does not mention President Bush by name but clearly this is a way of criticizing a US President and the previous administration to curry the favor of Europe. If Europe despised Bush, then Obama will partner with Europe in disdain.
I cannot overlook the irony of the situation. President Obama is chiding the Bush administration for being dismissive, yet isn't his criticism fueled by a dismissal? Is he not reversing Bush policies simply because they are Bush policies? Alas, I doubt I will hear him say something like this: "There have been times where I have shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive, of President Bush." That apology would get my attention!
"In America, there's a failure to recognize Europe's leading role in the world." Maybe it would be easier to recognize Europe's leading role if it actually existed.
Last I remember, every time during the last 100 years that the surrender monkeys in Europe sank too deep in the quicksand of appeasement, it's was the doughboys' job to go pull them out with bodies, bullets and bayonets.
The only sense in which Europe has a leading role is this: first to capitulate, first to grovel, first to surrender. Whether to fascism, communism, or radical Islam, Europe doesn't know anything other than how to be *first* to sit idly by.
Posted by: AC | April 09, 2009 at 07:10 PM