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Originally Posted by raveneye
I would define effective partly as the ability to negotiate with Europeans on issues of strategic importance to the U.S. Before Iraq, Europeans were more willing to make sacrifices during the negotiation process; now they are less willing, and hence Bush is a less effective President.
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France has never been down with our military moves from Gulf War I to allowing us use of air space after Qahdaffi blew up a discoteque. Schroeder (at least as depicted in the American media) has been elected on an Anti-American platform. I think you are really giving them too much credit as far as how "open" they were/are with us. Plus your comment seems to negate, or at least doesn't acknowledge, the fact that France and Germany had/have their own interests in regards to Iraq and Saddam. Plus the fact that it's not big secret that one of the sole purposes of the EU is to act as a counterweight to American power and influence.