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Originally Posted by TheLastBoyScout
Isn't it just a bit presumptuous to be putting this in the "White House" forum?
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Maybe, I did not mean this as an offence.. I was not sure which part of this forum would be appropriate.
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In regard to what Europe thinks of Obama, it is quite relevant. George W. Bush has been the face of American foreign policy and diplomacy for the last 8 years and if you think Bush is unpopular in America...
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Well, to say that Bush is just unpopular , is - at least with regard to Europe
the understatement of the year.
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So there is great foreign interest in Obama who seems to have a much different diplomatic outlook and ideological disposition. The interest is mainly self interest as foreign countries and foreign peoples would prefer that American diplomacy not be conducted at gunpoint.
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It is certainly self-interest that plays a role in here. But at the same time it is much more. Bush's foreign policy is regarded as being aggressive even towards countries that are not opposed to the US.
Think of the construction of "Old" and "New Europe" - that was directly targeted to those who did not agree with Bush's policy.
Now if you think of the wave of sympathy that flooded Europe after 9/11, this US Administration has admirably succeeded in giving away this advantage.
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I think foreigners may take the election of Obama as a rejection of the Bush Doctrine by the American People.... and conversely, might see the election of McCain as an endorsement of Bush's foreign policy.
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That's right. Which might be a misunderstanding from the European view.