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Here is an interesting article about the (supposely) gap between Europe and the US.

Power and Weakness

The end of the Cold War, by widening the power gap, exacerbated the disagreements. Although transatlantic tensions are now widely assumed to have begun with the inauguration of George W. Bush in January 2001, they were already evident during the Clinton administration and may even be traced back to the administration of George H.W. Bush. By 1992, mutual recriminations were rife over Bosnia, where the United States refused to act and Europe could not act. It was during the Clinton years that Europeans began complaining about being lectured by the "hectoring hegemon." This was also the period in which Védrine coined the term hyperpuissance to describe an American behemoth too worryingly powerful to be designated merely a superpower.

I agree with that assesment. Europe politically, militarily and in action is very weak. They want to do something, but they can never decide. Once they have decided they lack the political will to do so and move in. Europe militarily is pathetic. Though their industries are damn great. The swedish Griphon is one hell of a plane, and the new Euro-plane knocks the pants of the future US plane that replaces the F/16. I think it is the Jx something. But the Euro plane is supposedly far better. But military force is pathetic. They lack logistics, personal as well as equipment, that is why they love NATO so much.

But that is changing, countries due to Bush have a much easier way for moving the EU in place of the US. The european people are adverse to fighting and believe diplomacy is far better. The american govt and after sept 11th see it completely differently. It is a different mind set, maybe because the US has not really seen large amounts of bloodshed as Europe has in the recent past. Economically the EU rivals if not bests the US. The only thing that holds them back is the large CAP - their subsidies on agriculture. That takes billions of euros out of the EUs budget, but hopefully it will be lowered.

The other thing is that people like the EU far more because they pay attention to international law. They aim to unite the world and work with consensus. The US is seen as the lone star cowboy that does what it wants even if it is wrong. It is one of those good guy that turns bad and then good again etc type characters. While the EU is seen as the Architypical Good guy, fighting for what is right and not for national interest. That might not be true, but that is very much how the world sees the EU. I can see alot of people esp. Muslims being much happier if the EU dictated things than the US. The US is hated for both is power and for its blatant use of it in disregard for International law and norms. An example? Blackmailing the UNSC.

There has always been a tendency during times when a single "world power" has dominated, for unilateralists to insist they can go it alone and set conditions to the rest of the world. Personally, I think a study of the treaties and agreements negotiated and/or finalized during the Bush Sr, Clinton and present administrations show that its the current one which really breaks the mold. Both Bush Sr and Clinton engaged in regular binding international treaties, and honored those set up by their predecessors. This is the first administration since Millard Fillmore, back in the 1850s, to believe it did not have any obligations to do so, and could completely scrap whatever it wished.

I would give details, but I'm going on vacation, now. Remind me when I get back.

anyway, Europe is always the beautyfulestestestest!!!!
eheheh

Have a good time @Fable!

EDIT: I realize this is classified as spam, ehm, sorry