It would be hard to imagine President Obama – or any president – doing a better job wooing the continent of Europe. As part of our continuing coverage of President Obama’s tour of the Old Continent from the European point of view, we just posted this editorial from Le Figaro’s Pierre Rousselin, who writes in part:
“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. … But already, what a change in the style and manner of doing things! … If America has moved closer to Europe, the opposite movement is just as real. … Within days, he will have laid the foundations of a new transatlantic alliance.”
And in another indication that at least some in Old Europe understand Obama’s message of urgency on Afghanistan, we posted this editorial from Spain’s El Pais headlined, ‘Obama’s New Afghan Push: May He, and We, Succeed‘, which says in part:
“The war in Afghanistan continues to fester and neither Washington nor its allies – Spain among them – have a clear idea of how to win it. Jihadism is not only consolidating itself but expanding unstoppably … Al-Qaeda has been pushed into the vast and uncontrollable border region of that country, but will return to Afghanistan even stronger if the U.S. and NATO are unable to unequivocally take the military initiative and establish in Kabul both a credible government and army. An allied defeat at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, either real or apparent, would once again make Afghanistan a dynamo of terrorism around the world.”
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!
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