Europe's Obama Fatigue

Some of this can surely be attributed to Sarkozy's personal pique over upstart Obama stealing some of his thunder -- what the press has dubbed his "Obama complex" -- as the U.S. president did by swooping in to take credit for China's concessions at the G-20, for example. But there is legitimate frustration over the handling of issues as well. Most famously, of course, Sarkozy complained at the United Nations that "President Obama dreams of a world without weapons but right in front of us two countries [Iran and North Korea] are doing the exact opposite." There are also sharp differences over troop levels and strategic objectives in Afghanistan, Turkey's candidacy for the European Union, and the future of the French nuclear arsenal.

But if Obama's ratings are slowly falling on the continent, one place where they are already low -- lower than Bush's, certainly -- is in the countries that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dubbed "New Europe." While Bush made Eastern and Central Europe a top priority -- as evidenced by the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic and the push for NATO expansion for Georgia and Ukraine -- his successor is clearly more concerned about relations with Russia, the very country whose influence New Europe is trying to avoid.

Obama's handling of the policy reversal on missile defense, in particular, has drawn sharp rebukes from the region, mostly on the execution rather than the policy itself. A Polish official was quoted by United Press International proclaiming that, "Waking Czech Prime Minister Fisher at midnight European time, and calling President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Tusk -- who refused to take the call -- 70 years to the day that Russia invaded Poland -- is politically inept and very offensive." Another official added, "this simply confirms how unimportant Europe is to the U.S., despite President Obama's words to the contrary."

To be sure, this criticism is somewhat overstated. But, as Bush learned to his chagrin, perception can become reality.

And indeed, while most European heads of state dutifully congratulated Obama after the surprise announcement of his Nobel win, the European press was as stunned as their American counterparts. The Independent's Ian Birrell assessed that Obama was being "once again lauded for his symbolism and potential rather than his actual deeds." Peter Beaumont of The Guardian equally snarked, "The reality is that the prize appears to have been awarded to Barack Obama for what he is not. For not being George W. Bush. Or rather being less like the last president."

It would be ironic, indeed, if the Europeans started longing for the good old days of the Bush administration. But that nostalgia is closer than you might think.

PREVIOUS 12

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TOM G

12:01 PM ET

October 30, 2009

America shouldn't Ignore Europe

Mark my words if the American administration continues to underestimate us in Europe believing that it can be overlooked it will be at your own peril for when America really needs us in Europe we have long memories and will remember reneged promises and ignored opinions on important subjects such as Afghanistan and the global economic crisis.

REPLY

DUKESANTOS

3:57 PM ET

You might want to include more fish in your diet

Your memory is shorter than you think, if it wasn't you'd remember all the American lives lost in the preservation of European liberty, as well as the treasure spent defending Europe during the cold-war. When put on that scale Obama failing to give Brown a proper gift, and not indulging Sarko in his narcissism is hardly reason to play chickenlittle.

HILDRED BOROGHNED

3:35 PM ET

US dropped the ball

It's been obvious from day one.

Europe is out of the loop.
The british picked it up first.
The return of the Churchill-bust, harsh snubs on Brown (though deserved), face-time on G-20 and G-2 (not G-8).
All the things that don't happen anymore. Brotherhood and so forth.

It's a wake-up call for Europe, the golden days are long gone.

Also worth noting,
in a few decades the white population of the US will be less than 50%.
Times are a'changing.

BOREDWELL

6:06 PM ET

Fading love

Friction between the old world and new continues to be a popular trope reiterated by media on both sides of the Atlantic. The antipathy began the minute the first European explorers stepped ashore to claim another continent as their own. History chronicles the ups and downs and the reverberations of that relationship. When the US, that incredibly rich, resourceful but woefully under-civilized upstart nation, began to assert its post WW2 power on a more global scale, Europe, still in recovery, had no choice but to acquiesce. Stalin was at her back door. It was then the dynamics of realpolitics changed: Both the new superpowers made unilateral decisions and set policies based on their competing needs and desires. The US reasoned Europe was being taken care of, defended by NATO and with the aid of the Marshall Plan's dollars recovering. Unfortunately, US influence continued to grow unabated. Today a unified Europe is pushing back to combat US assertiveness (aggressiveness) with its insistence on multi-lateralism. Obama stated his case in Strasbourg promising an equal partnership. Sure, Europe can snipe at him for his various oversights and faux pas. Whether intentional or not, they have antagonized people. Yet, despite the president's flaws, follow-though is a cooperative effort that takes time. We can wish but shouldn't expect that things will change overnight. We should, also, be realistic and honest enough to acknowledge that while it's easy to blame Obama and the US, it does, afterall, take two to mangle as well as tango.

RIPLEY

8:52 PM ET

Joyner Bush Brown noser !

Thankfully all you have is an opinion and not facts ! you must watch Fox news.

As for advice ?

Ignoring that August memo Bush did was a wowzer ! Not to mention multitudes of Advice on Iraq and Afghanistan.

In an interview this August to CBS Cheney complained Bush stopped taking advice from his staff after 04.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/13/politics/main5238501.shtml

At the very least it was evident Bush ignored the constitution !

as for Europe ? well since he ignored them on Iraq ....and climate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4283203.stm

9:37 PM ET

Obama Remains Popular in Europe

Obama Remains Popular in Europe
By Michael Bowman
Washington
09 September 2009

A newly-released survey shows that U.S. President Barack Obama is vastly more popular in Europe than his predecessor, George W. Bush, but that transatlantic differences remain on critical foreign policy issues and global challenges.

The annual public opinion poll, conducted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, or GMF, shows that 77 percent of respondents in the European Union plus Turkey approve of President Obama's handling of international affairs. By comparison, just 19 percent backed former President Bush's foreign policies in 2008.

GMF Transatlantic Fellow Bruce Stokes presented the findings at a Washington forum. He said the so-called "Obama bounce" is the biggest ever recorded for a U.S. president in modern history.

"The numbers jump in an almost not-credible fashion," said Stokes. "If this did not reflect the findings that other surveys have found as well, [then] one might want to question these numbers. But the reality is we feel very confident in these numbers because others surveys have found similar results."

The upswing in sentiment toward America's president is most pronounced in Western Europe. German approval, for example, jumped 80 percent since Mr. Obama came to office. Eastern European nations also recorded higher favorability ratings for the U.S. president, but the increase was more modest. Half of Turkish respondents back Mr. Obama, compared to 8 percent that supported President Bush.

cont ..........

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-09/2009-09-09-voa31.cfm?CFID=310800335&CFTOKEN=86597519&jsessionid=00301567c8fb67f0a310126d494018235362

like I stated .............Joyner's opinion doesn't meet facts. step away from the Faux News channel !

SPACEMONKEY086

2:36 AM ET

November 1, 2009

So What?

To be sure, Obama may not be as strong as he could be when it comes to European affairs. But he does seem to be pretty focused on the US. Being an American citizen, I appreciate that.

To be sure, NATO and the countries in Europe have not exactly been as supportive as they could be when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan. The cold shoulder Obama is giving to Gordon Brown may also be underscored by the fact it looks like the Tories may win the next election. If he seems too close to Labour, he may loose leverage when the next PM gets elected.

To be sure, the current economic crisis seems to have been born in the US, I think its important that we get our own ducks in a row, especially since so many countries depend on our financial system, consumers, etc. Also, many other nations seem to demand our attention at the moment. More volatile nations like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Oh and did I mention we are still fighting two wars? Yes but ill say it twice. Europe seems to be doing pretty well at the moment, what with the lisbon treaty soon to be ratified and rumors of the euro as the next global reserve currency. I think Europe can handle its own affairs pretty well without the states holding its hand every step of the way.

JSC5

8:43 AM ET

November 2, 2009

staffing problems

Re: your criticism that Obama's administration has several key positions related to European relations currently un- or under-staffed.

The Obama administration in general is understaffed, largely due to unprecedented obstructions from the political opposition in the US Senate. I don't think this should be taken as a sign of Obama's personal disregard for Europe, but rather as a sign of how difficult it is to govern in the US, even when elected by large majorities.

Bush was better for Europe. No, seriously.

BY JAMES JOYNER | OCTOBER 29, 2009

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