Why us Europeans should think twice before criticising the USA

[Yaype]

You don't treat those nations as friends, but rather aquaintances of convenience.

As a Canadian, if Americans treat me as an aquaintance of convenience, then I know longer consider them friends, but rather just aquaintances of convenience.

And a thing about that, is what happens when it is no longer convenient. You don't seem to understand how much damage your government has done to your friendship of other peoples. I don't suggest you are a Bush supporter, but was just pointing out that you cannot automatically assume the relationship hasn't changed after the administration in charge (as well as the entire American media beaming all over the world), basically says that the opinions of 80% of Canadians 88% of Spaniards.... and so on, do not count, and that America would act in spite of us.

Of course America falls more in my favour than most countries around the world, but for me (as well as most people not in the states), that opinion has dropped rather considerably.

I would contend that acting in spite of the wishes of those who you claim as friends does not necessarily make those friends cease to be such. The U.S. has not (at least not publicly and with the knowledge of its citizens) acted in a way that was explicitly intended to be detrimental to any of our allies, nor has it said anything about wanting long-lasting friendships to end. Acting in a way that is intended to bring greater freedom to the world (misguided or not) despite having disagreements with friends cannot be justified as an attempt to end any friendships. Disagreements happen--it is the way they are dealt with in the long run that determine whether friendships last. The U.S. has not abandoned its friends, and its citizens do not intend to do so.

 

[Steph]

Chirac declaration (today), translation by me

"Starting immediately, and without waiting the answer of the internationale community, French military air transports from the French Forces in Chad are at the disposal of humanitarian transportation for people of Darfour... reinforcements are being sent to secure the area, on the Chadian sideof the border". France will keep trying to mobilize European Union and International community to get a globale answer, matching the seriousness of the gravity of the situation in Darfour.

 

[El Justo]

I would contend that acting in spite of the wishes of those who you claim as friends does not necessarily make those friends cease to be such. The U.S. has not (at least not publicly and with the knowledge of its citizens) acted in a way that was explicitly intended to be detrimental to any of our allies, nor has it said anything about wanting long-lasting friendships to end. Acting in a way that is intended to bring greater freedom to the world (misguided or not) despite having disagreements with friends cannot be justified as an attempt to end any friendships. Disagreements happen--it is the way they are dealt with in the long run that determine whether friendships last. The U.S. has not abandoned its friends, and its citizens do not intend to do so.

well put my friend

 

[sabo]

I don't think the readiness to fling weight about and vapourise people should be praised.

But if a nation is fixated with militarism, it feels the need to exert power.

Curt I can't believe you said this. The US (present day) is only in the business of throwing their weight around and vaporizing people who like to throw THEIR weight around and vaporize people so they stop doing it. How many 10's of thousands of Kurds got horribly killed by Hussien? The US went in captured him, and you know what?? Saddam Hussien is not a threat anymore to anyone thanks to the US military.

I always get a kick out of these people I see on the road with bumper stickers demanding PEACE, and knocking Bush down... If peace is so important for them where were they in 1990, why weren't they over in Iraq telling Saddam he's a nut case and demanding peace and to get the heck out of Kuwait? Because if they did they'd would surely perish that's why.
The US is not interested in allowing Bully's in charge of countries around the world do, invade, rape, kill, who ever they want!

It's sad but I truley believe that there are some American's (and I supposed other countries citizens) that protest for something they really don't believe in, the only reason they do it is because their goverment allows them too... God bless freedom!!