A World Apart
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, September 15, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Foreign Relations: Europeans are practically begging American voters to make Barack Obama our next president. Is it just his charm, or something deeper — and fundamentally anti-American — at work?
It's no secret that Obama has the Old World vote locked up. This won't help him in the Electoral College, but it does seem to support one of his campaign themes — that America, by electing him, will repair old friendships damaged by this administration.
The reality, however, is more complicated. It's not just Bush and Cheney that turn off Europeans, but more basic issues that no U.S. president can easily resolve — especially if he sees it as his duty to keep America strong and use that strength if need be.
A poll taken in 12 European countries shows plenty of optimism for better U.S.-Europe relations if Obama's elected. Forty-seven percent expect Obama to mend ties, while only 11% think the same of John McCain. Just 5% think Obama would worsen relations.
Obama also buries McCain in favorability ratings, 69% to 26%. Like John Kerry before him, Obama has won millions of votes that don't count. Should he get elected, however, Obama might disappoint these fans if he acts as a U.S. president should. Only 33% favored the U.S. exerting "strong leadership in world affairs" compared with 80% of Americans asked the same question.
This difference in attitude toward American power has been a problem for U.S.-European relations since the end of the Cold War. U.S. presidents have tried to deal with it in different ways.
Bill Clinton tried to let Europe take the lead in dealing with conflicts in its own backyard, especially the old Yugoslavia. But this went nowhere. As the bloodshed continued, the U.S. pulled rank and led NATO into the Balkans to wage war against Serbia.
George W. Bush had a largely united Europe behind him in Afghanistan but broke ranks with much of the continent by invading Iraq. Even before 9/11, he had raised hackles by rejecting the distinctly Europe-friendly Kyoto accords. More recently he's tried to let Europe take the lead on Iranian nukes and the Russian invasion of Georgia. Sadly, the results speak for themselves.
Polls and history both teach that fear and loathing of U.S. power are staples of European public opinion. But wise European leaders also know they lack the unity and power to deal on their own with threats such as nuclear terrorism and Russian imperialism.
Obama's one-world rhetoric may be what anti-American thought leaders on the Continent want to hear. But to realists it should raise fears that America will shrink from leadership and let chaos reign. |
