Spring Break
Bush must mend fences in Europe, secure allies
Editorial
Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: Commentary
President George W. Bush is currently in the middle of a trip to Europe meant to re-establish the United States' friendly status with the European Union. Though the Western powers have had very vocal differences in the past, it is essential that all of the involved countries remain on good political and economic terms.
Bush must be very careful with his words, as he's recently pointed out Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions against a free and independent press and rollbacks on democracy.
The United States remains in a precarious situation regarding the state of world politics. The world overwhelmingly disagreed with America's actions in Iraq, and though Bush must remain vigilant in defense of this country, we have come to rely on our allies as they have on us.
The United States Armed Forces remain the undisputed strongest and most powerful in the world, but the U.S. economy has come to rely on foreign imports and exports.
Bush has challenged Putin over his actions in curbing a free press and taking away provincial governors in Russia. Yet Putin remains one of the United States' allies in its War on Terror, in part due to his own country's relationship with Chechnya.
While countries like France and Germany may have opposed our pre-emptive tactics in the War on Iraq, it is essential that the Western powers remain allies. The actions by the U.S. Government have bred distrust among the Muslim world and Eastern powers.
Meanwhile, the European Union intends to lift its arms embargo against China, which Bush adamantly opposes due to the upset of balance between China and Taiwan. Once again, the United States' interests collide with the E.U.'s.
Although Bush is correct in asserting the United States does not need permission from anyone in order to defend itself, there is a prevailing notion in the world that the U.S. has become (or always been) an imperialist nation. Bush's "tough talk" toward the supposed "evil" countries only breeds animosity and further breeds the hatred that fuels terrorism.
The truth remains that the United States remains the most powerful political, military and economic power in the world, but as our own country has moved away from manufacturing and toward service, we are reliant on the global economy to continue our current quality of living in this country.
Bush, as the most powerful man in the world and the ambassador for our country, must choose his words carefully and always speak with respect to the leaders of other nations. He has a great responsibility to do what is best for his country, and sometimes what is best for this country is to avoid making more enemies.
Bush must be very careful with his words, as he's recently pointed out Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions against a free and independent press and rollbacks on democracy.
The United States remains in a precarious situation regarding the state of world politics. The world overwhelmingly disagreed with America's actions in Iraq, and though Bush must remain vigilant in defense of this country, we have come to rely on our allies as they have on us.
The United States Armed Forces remain the undisputed strongest and most powerful in the world, but the U.S. economy has come to rely on foreign imports and exports.
Bush has challenged Putin over his actions in curbing a free press and taking away provincial governors in Russia. Yet Putin remains one of the United States' allies in its War on Terror, in part due to his own country's relationship with Chechnya.
While countries like France and Germany may have opposed our pre-emptive tactics in the War on Iraq, it is essential that the Western powers remain allies. The actions by the U.S. Government have bred distrust among the Muslim world and Eastern powers.
Meanwhile, the European Union intends to lift its arms embargo against China, which Bush adamantly opposes due to the upset of balance between China and Taiwan. Once again, the United States' interests collide with the E.U.'s.
Although Bush is correct in asserting the United States does not need permission from anyone in order to defend itself, there is a prevailing notion in the world that the U.S. has become (or always been) an imperialist nation. Bush's "tough talk" toward the supposed "evil" countries only breeds animosity and further breeds the hatred that fuels terrorism.
The truth remains that the United States remains the most powerful political, military and economic power in the world, but as our own country has moved away from manufacturing and toward service, we are reliant on the global economy to continue our current quality of living in this country.
Bush, as the most powerful man in the world and the ambassador for our country, must choose his words carefully and always speak with respect to the leaders of other nations. He has a great responsibility to do what is best for his country, and sometimes what is best for this country is to avoid making more enemies.