Think Progress

Europeans View America As A ‘Force For Evil’ Under Bush

bushnato2web2.jpgLast April, President Bush traveled to Europe to attend his final NATO summit. While there, he openly advocated that the alliance incorporate former Soviet republics Ukraine and George as full NATO members in an effort to “lay down a marker” for his “freedom agenda” legacy. However, NATO rebuffed, a “remarkable rejection of American policy in an alliance normally dominated by Washington.”

Next week, Bush is heading back. National Security adviser Stephen Hadley said Bush “will encourage Europe to work with the United States to confront a series of global challenges that face us both.” However, it is doubtful that Bush will encourage Europe to do much of anything as the continent’s view of the America’s role in the world has soured under Bush’s “leadership.”

Asking Europeans if “the United States is overall a force for good or force for evil in today’s world,” a recent Daily Telegraph poll found:

Anti-American sentiment still runs high [in Europe]. More people in France, Germany and Britain view the United States as a “force for evil” than good in the world, according to a poll last month for The Daily Telegraph newspaper of London.

Moreover, its unclear whether Bush’s European friends are even interested in hearing what he has to say, as many seem to believe his second term as president cannot end soon enough:

– William Keylor, professor of international relations at Boston University says “Europe is waiting for Bush’s successor because the president remains unpopular with much of the public.”

– “To say Europeans will welcome U.S. President George Bush on his farewell visit to Europe next week would invite a charge of verb-abuse. Welcome is hardly the word. But they will be glad to see the back of him.”

– “Many [European leaders] are looking forward now to the next president,” said Julianne Smith, Europe analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Indeed, the Telegraph poll also found that large majorities in Britain, France, Germany and Italy favor Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) over Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

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71 Responses to “Europeans View America As A ‘Force For Evil’ Under Bush”

  1. WaltB says:

    “Europeans View America As A ‘Force For Evil’ Under Bush.” So do many of us here. What else is new.


  2. spencers mom says:

    WaltB, you took the words right out of my fingers.

    PEACE


  3. Zooey says:

    No shit.

    **hiding face in shame**


  4. VerbalKint says:

    I am confident that most Europeans will have a 180 degree turnaround after the government turns over in the next election. The Europeans I know are pulling for Obama.


  5. Anacher Forester says:

    As sickening as it is to admit, it’s true.

    -AF
    Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud


  6. trollsbwild says:

    At least we have found common ground with these European countries.


  7. liberal traitor says:

    rogers Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Yes, and blair was so much different…what a joke.

    Well, yes and no. Blair was a sh_thead too, but his “force of evil” came about because he was seen as Bush’s lapdog.

    Always two there are, no more, no less. A master and an apprentice…

    /dork off


  8. bentley1 says:

    Yes, Rogers, bushbaby is a joke.
    Except to bootlickers like you.
    Blair’s unpopularity was due to the fact he was a bootlicker, like you.
    but you know that, don’t you?
    take care
    tony and guidedog Lido


  9. JMOHR says:

    But our own Democratic controlled Congress failed to act upon the impression both here and overseas. We failed to hold W’s feet to the fire on Iraq by being easily bluffed on funding the war. We now are preparing to cave on telecom immunity. I guess little things like impeachable offenses were always off the table. We will have an election once again speaking about the weakness of Democrats. Would not our chances and our control of Congress be far brighter (and they are good now) if we showed a little strength?


  10. mary says:

    I visited Europe in the early 90’s and got quite a bit of hostility even then. I can only imagine how they feel now.


  11. Buckie Boy says:

    “Europeans and Intelligent Americans View America As A ‘Force For Evil’ Under Bush”

    “ChristoFascist, jackbooting, brownshirt, lemming, neanderthal, knuckle-draggers view America as a ‘Force For Fear” Under Bush”


  12. raynman says:

    and to think… all the good will of the world was behind us on September 12, 2001…. and less than 7 years later, look at where we are


  13. Leftside Annie says:

    I guess ol’ Booshie turned out to be a uniter after all, eh?

    He united the entire WORLD against him.


  14. Jackie says:

    No surprise their you have to ask yourself ” Would you follow a proven drunken/drug/idiot/liar like George W. Bush.
    If you answer yes your on of the 25% in the poll and you would sink with the Titanic.


  15. Bob says:

    Well, wine and dine
    The world can’t wait till
    01/20/09!


  16. misshusseinmolly says:

    Indeed, the Telegraph poll also found that large majorities in Britain, France, Germany and Italy favor Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) over Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
    ___________________________________________________

    I’m just waiting for the Repubs to find some way to equate Britain, France, Germany, and Italy with Hamas. Then, after they paint these countries (all allies of the U.S.) in the harshest negative light possible, they will begin their advertising that they support Obama (spoken in as sinister a manner as possible).

    Which will REALLY score points with the international community — right?


  17. Anacher Forester says:

    VerbalKint,

    We’ll be lucky if we see a 45 degree turnaround from the Europeans. The other 135 degrees will have to be earned one degree at time.

    -AF
    Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud


  18. StratRat says:

    mary Says:

    I visited Europe in the early 90’s and got quite a bit of hostility even then. I can only imagine how they feel now.

    In my job, I am constantly speaking to both western and eastern Europeans. The one absolute common topic, brought up all the time, is the single question: How can the normally very bright and courageous Americans have been turned into a nation of cowards? The next question usually relates to how we could elevate a known loser like Bush, into the national political scene? Couldn’t we find someone better?

    I can almost guarantee those discussions at least 3 times a day. It gets old trying to defend my country against these questions.


  19. had enough says:

    In the eyes of most around the world polls have shown it is US that is viewed as the biggest terrorist threat. And this was years ago… imagine how we will stand if and when Iran is attacked.


  20. old_hack says:

    I talked about the EU a lot in my last broadcast. pretty funny how we try to look down at france but yet they have more states rights as a state in the EU then Alabama has ever had

    you guys see the gas prices lately? now THATS evil!

    literally “highway robbery”

    4.27 a GALLON of gas


  21. joe cantwell says:

    johnboy Says:
    F**k those ungrateful SOB’s!! Jealousy is a terrible thing.

    an earlier post from jb:

    johnboy Says:
    joe cantwell Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    will somebody please help rogers with his grammar and spelling? “Your an idiot”, “nessesarly”, for god sakes what kind of an inbred ‘tards are they sending over here these day?!

    Just so I get this correct. From the progressive stand point and ideology you see no hypocrisy with is comment?

    “no hypocrisy”?


  22. misshusseinmolly says:

    had enough Says
    June 6th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
    …imagine how we will stand if and when Iran is attacked.
    ____________________________________________________

    I suspect that if we attack Iran without provocation, much of the world will come to view us as a rabid dog that needs to be put down. Right now, the international community may privately hate us, but they are tolerating what we are doing in the Middle East. Iran could raise the simmer up to a full boil, resulting in the rest of the world uniting against us and sparking World War III.


  23. Yankeluh says:

    So do a lot of Americans.


  24. Sven Ortmann says:

    “force of evil” is too much.
    Rather “troublemaker”, “not helpful”, “misguided”.

    I can confirm the article in general, though.
    Bush senior/Baker accumulated political capital, Bush junior spent it (all).

    http://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.com/2007/10/leader-of-free-world.html

    Sven Ortmann (Germany)


  25. joe cantwell says:

    rogers Says:
    The “Kingdom of Saudia arabia” is an absolute monarchy, with religious text as a constitution…I mean, if they’re so worried about foreighn leadership..

    my god will it never end?


  26. Zooey says:

    johnboy Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    F**k those ungrateful SOB’s!! Jealousy is a terrible thing.

    June 6th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    johnboy proves it — you can’t fix stupid.

    It’s true!!


  27. tanglewood says:

    I have travelled a lot and to say that this administration is hated is an understatement. Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and others would have been before a jury in the Hague long before now if they had been governing in Europe.

    My British, French, Swedish and French friends says the hostility is palbable and Bush is not welcome in Europe. Tony Blair is reviled in all of Great Britain and so is his equally social climbing wife.

    Sarkozy will only be in office for one term and he’ll be out on his derierre.


  28. belac says:

    rogers:
    yet again your ‘life is f’ed up everywhere so why should we care about this Bush failing?’ logic eludes me.
    Yes, I had my differences with Tony Blair but he’s in Great Britain and he stepped down… the British have the situation well in hand.
    Saudi Arabia is a mess, but I don’t trust Bush to have any positive influence, do you?
    Bush is an embarrassment to all Americans, and if you don’t think so, you’re just embarrassing yourself, rogers.


  29. ralph the wonder llama says:

    johnboy Says:
    had enough Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    In the eyes of most around the world polls have shown it is US that is viewed as the biggest terrorist threat. And this was years ago… imagine how we will stand if and when Iran is attacked.

    The same polls you speak of shows Liberalism as the biggest threat to sane and rational thinking!

    Links, please?

    Oh, you mean, you were just making sh!t up again?

    johnboy, please do us this favor — if you’re going to make sh!t up to attack “Liberalism” at least have the sh!t make sense, okay?

    Thanks.


  30. mary says:

    StratRay says:

    In my job, I am constantly speaking to both western and eastern Europeans. The one absolute common topic, brought up all the time, is the single question: How can the normally very bright and courageous Americans have been turned into a nation of cowards? The next question usually relates to how we could elevate a known loser like Bush, into the national political scene? Couldn’t we find someone better?

    I can almost guarantee those discussions at least 3 times a day. It gets old trying to defend my country against these questions.

    I think that most Americans who have not travelled outside of North America would get quite a rude shock if they did.

    I also think that it would help us out enormously as a country if Americans took the time to consider how they themselves would view this country if they lived outside of the US.


  31. joe cantwell says:

    ot but today is the 64th anniversary of d-day. not a single “patriotic” troll has bothered to mentioned it.

    when did they stop caring?

    *


  32. gummitch says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    johnboy, please do us this favor — if you’re going to make sh!t up to attack “Liberalism” at least have the sh!t make sense, okay?

    You’ve set the bar pretty high, Ralph. Make sense? That’s just mean.


  33. joe cantwell says:

    johnboy Says:
    Zooey Says:

    If you only knew how right you are!!!!!!!!!!!

    we do. every time you troll we are reminded.

    :)


  34. DaTruth says:

    I was just looking at some images and videos of Bush in a clasroom reading with some kids on 9/11. If you look closely at him just when he is told that the attacks took place. HE LOOKS SO PARANOID! IT IS SO OBVIOUS THAT HE HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE! At a point he just can’t contain his nervous uneasyness and his eyes shift sideways back and forth. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it all out. This idiot has been lying about this and many other things for a long time.

    Between now and the the end of his term WE SHOULD WATCH HIM CLOSELY! He’s got a couple more tricks inder his sleeve.
    Another staged terrorist attack in addition to a possible economic meltdown and declaring war on Iran. We have to BE AWARE of the possibilities.


  35. moondancer says:

    My first reaction is evidently the same as most commenter’s here. I must be from another country because I agree.
    The wages of being an irresponsible super power.


  36. gummitch says:

    joe cantwell Says:

    ot but today is the 64th anniversary of d-day. not a single “patriotic” troll has bothered to mentioned it.

    And not really all that off-topic. In the series of great photos joe linked to, there’s a scene of French civilians greeting the troops as liberators — something that turned out to be a complete fantasy 60 years later in Iraq.

    Something on the order of 2,500 GI’s died the first day, along with an equal number of paratroopers and slightly more German soldiers. War sucks.


  37. moondancer says:

    datruth@40

    I saw fear in his face. The realization that President wasn’t a ceremonial position like governor of Texas was. Exposed as a coward and bully he has hidden behind the skirts of his staff ever since.


  38. joe cantwell says:

    johnboy Says:

    so you get angry when you’re proven wrong?

    *


  39. octamethyl says:

    #43 JohnBoy-
    If repugs are truly somehow happier, it is only because ignorance is F’N BLISS


  40. Uncle Ho says:

    America as a force of Evil under Bush

    Now we know how the average German felf living under Nazi rule.


  41. Uncle Ho says:

  42. gummitch says:

    johnboy Says:

    Republicans Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others

    According to a recent Gallup poll, Republicans report much better mental health!

    Here you go Barf The Small D**k Donkey.

    If you could read the linked articles, you would know that they’re reporting on Republicans who claim to have good mental health. Considering how Republicans have demonstrated the power of self-delusion repeatedly over the last seven years, this shouldn’t come as any surprise. There’s no actual evidence to support their self-assessment.

    And, of course, it doesn’t begin to establish your initial claim nor is it the “same poll” cited about Europeans. You’re currently batting .000.


  43. gummitch says:

    johnboy Says:

    No, is just hanging around all the negativity you can’t help but let it rub off a little.

    If you can’t take the heat, feel free to p!ss off.


  44. ralph the wonder llama says:

    nice try, johnboy — you DID come up with links, so you get a half point for that.

    But you’re supposed to come up with links that support what you claim:

    The same polls you speak of shows Liberalism as the biggest threat to sane and rational thinking!

    Let’s not even deal with your claim that this comes from the “same polls”. THat’s a flat-out lie, but it’s so stupid I’ll just let it go.

    That’s a pretty specific charge you made– “biggest threat to sane and rational thinking”.

    I don’t want to get too detailed here — because I want you to be able to get something out of it — but your polls show “Ratings of ONE’S OWN mental health”. See, people describe how they assess themselves. Not really a valid diagnosis of clinical mental health or illness, now, is it? Especially given the level of delusion Republicans have been willing to display over the past eight years.

    No, john boy, I think your link doesn’t say what you claimed it said, and in fact kind of made you look like an unsophisticated child.

    Although the “Barf The Small D**k Donkey” taunt certainly did much to dispel that impression.


  45. Uncle Ho says:

    anniversery of D-Day; are the trolls going to mention that Americans have died for those ungrateful brie-eating French?

    Do you want ‘Freedom’ fries with that?

    SNARK


  46. joe cantwell says:

    johnboy Says:

    No, is just hanging around all the negativity you can’t help but let it rub off a little.

    jb, that doesn’t make sense. try again.

    *

    are you still angry?

    *


  47. joe cantwell says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Although the “Barf The Small D**k Donkey” taunt certainly did much to dispel that impression.

    i think it was his anger that made him write that.

    *

    he has so much of it.

    *


  48. gummitch says:

    johnboy Says:

    gummitch Says:

    Do you think physiology is a solid science based on nothing but facts?

    Physiology? Yes, I think physiology is solid science, since it is (to crib from Wikipedia): “the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms.”


  49. GSD says:

    Loathed at home, reviled abroad.

    President Shitheel slinks into the history books as a warmongering villain.

    -GSD


  50. Doc Rock says:

    It was NEVER so under the “despised” and “derided” William Jefferson Clinton.


  51. GSD says:

    After ridiculing “feel good” Democrats for decades, the GOP now takes solace in “feel good” polls in the face of national and world wide repudiation of their philosophy and their unstable, warmongering leader.

    Funny stuff.

    -GSD


  52. Saint Augustine says:

    On June 6, 1944, reacting to my mother’s nervousness about D-Day, I kicked her in the stomach. Two months later I was born. My father was already overseas and did not learn until December, while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, that his child that was due in August was a boy.


  53. sacopenapa says:

    Only in europe????!!!!!!!! The whole World thinks the USA and Israel are forces of evil. They are alone! Let me stress here this view does not include the American people. We are talking about the governments. The USA government also disregard its own people. It mislead them and lie to them all the time.


  54. WaltTheMan says:

    George is neither a European state nor a former SSR. Might you have meant Georgia or is George W Bush planning to be the least populated NATO member?


  55. joe cantwell says:

    johnboy Says:
    psychology

    anger.

    *


  56. scytherius says:

    An absolutely 100% correct assessment.


  57. Leftside Annie says:

    johnboy Says:

    Do you think physiology is a solid science based on nothing but facts?

    Physiology?

    What does that have to do with PSYCHOLOGY, o trollish one…?

    I’m a firm believer that Repukes reporting on their own mental health are nothing more than fooking delusional morons.


  58. bentley1 says:

    Actually Joe, I think the right-wingers are in a deep sense of denial right now.
    Come November they’ll have to be in the acceptance stage.
    Either that,or seek intensive inpatient therapy.
    take care
    tonyand guidedog Lido


  59. WaltTheMan says:

    TP,
    From the header:
    Last April, President Bush traveled to Europe to attend his final NATO summit. While there, he openly advocated that the alliance incorporate former Soviet republics Ukraine and George as full NATO members in an effort to “lay down a marker” for his “freedom agenda” legacy. However, NATO rebuffed, a “remarkable rejection of American policy in an alliance normally dominated by Washington.”

    I hate it when knowledge about nations beyond our borders is so limited!


  60. Left Coast Mike says:

    Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to rate their mental health as excellent,

    Self diagnosis of the delusional. =)


  61. Buckie Boy says:

    Who let the 12 year old in here?

    Jerkyboy, get off your moms computer and go play outside. May I suggest a busy street?


  62. Game of Life says:

    chimpy has bombed us back into caves, the very exact thing he said he was going to level on a defenseless Iraq.

    Europe and many other countries are moving ahead while repugs continually lie to the smallest mass on earth.

    Everybody except hill’s supports and repugs believe Sen. Obama is going to be great for the US.


  63. stateofthedivision says:

    It turns out only 25% of the population want a heavy handed, ethically challenged leader like George W. Aafter seven years of his bleedership, the world is well aware of the results and the heavy losses of which Dr. W. Edwards Deming spoke.


  64. upside99 says:

    I have been to 7 countries in Europe and 3 in Central and South America in the past year and as soon as anyone finds out that I am from the US, they ask me 2 questions: 1. How did we ever elect him TWICE and 2. Am I ashamed for my country.

    I tell them I don’t know how we ever elected him either time, and, yes, I am also ashamed, and 3, I DID NOT VOTE FOR THAT ARSEHOLE EVER!

    They usually forgave me at that point.


  65. green says:

    #40 Datruth – Those images always suggested to me that Bush was likely saying to himself “I can’t believe they really did it!” Yes, certainly foreknowledge – but perhaps slightly out of the loop. What has always amazed me is that his popularity soared right after the worst crime in our history was committed on HIS watch. It makes no sense. I am asking everyone who ever voted for this criminal to do us and the world a favor – stay home on election day. You have proven you are incapable of making a rational and informed decision. Stop fu(king yourselves and all the rest of us!


  66. Anacher Forester says:

    Johnboy,
    If we “libruls” have worse mental health than Republicans, it’s because Republican stupidity, corruption, greed and hubris drives us frickin’ crazy. It shames us all too. Because unlike Republicans we have a conscience.

    -AF
    Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud


  67. TeleMan says:

    Look at that picture of our president. Really, look at it. What a pathetic lonely man.



  68. Irishbeer says:

    I spent a year in Europe last year (mostly in France, Spain, and the UK), and I really got to know quite a few people while I was there. As an American in Western Europe, there was one thing that really stuck out to me about a lot of Europeans. I’ve never seen such a group of people that had so many self-centered and shallow individuals in my life. Here in the States you might meet someone who is really self-centered every once in awhile, and you just write them off as a jerk. Over in Europe the overwhelming majority of people struck me as being extremely materialistic, very shallow, and very self-centered. Now I enjoyed my time in Europe in experiencing the different cultures, and seeing the sights, and trying the food, etc. Obviously there were exceptions to the rule, and some of the people I met were “more real people” in my opinion. I became friends with a lot of those people. However, I was just amazed by how materialistic and self-centered Western Europeans are in general. When I got back to the States I had conversations with my friends about how much they envied Western Europe, and how “progressive” they are. I kept thinking to myself, “God help the United States if our people become as materialistic and as self-centered as most of the people in Western Europe.” After spending a year in Western Europe I have learned that when it comes to a lot of issues in the United States, I really don’t care what a bunch of self-centered, extremely materialistic Western Europeans think concerning many of the issues in the US.


  69. republicanSScareme says:

    “Europeans View America As A ‘Force For Evil’ Under Bush.”

    So do Americans, Canadians, Chinese, Mexicans, Iraquis, Iranians, South Africans, Bolivians, Australians, Indonesians, Indians, Koreans, Algerians, Icelanders, Phillipinos, Costa Ricans, and the Quahaha People of the lost island of Quamala.


  70. Evil Spaniard says:

    Irishbeer Says:

    I spent a year in Europe last year (mostly in France, Spain, and the UK), and I really got to know quite a few people while I was there. As an American in Western Europe, there was one thing that really stuck out to me about a lot of Europeans. I’ve never seen such a group of people that had so many self-centered and shallow individuals in my life. Here in the States you might meet someone who is really self-centered every once in awhile, and you just write them off as a jerk. Over in Europe the overwhelming majority of people struck me as being extremely materialistic, very shallow, and very self-centered. Now I enjoyed my time in Europe in experiencing the different cultures, and seeing the sights, and trying the food, etc. Obviously there were exceptions to the rule, and some of the people I met were “more real people” in my opinion. I became friends with a lot of those people. However, I was just amazed by how materialistic and self-centered Western Europeans are in general. When I got back to the States I had conversations with my friends about how much they envied Western Europe, and how “progressive” they are. I kept thinking to myself, “God help the United States if our people become as materialistic and as self-centered as most of the people in Western Europe.” After spending a year in Western Europe I have learned that when it comes to a lot of issues in the United States, I really don’t care what a bunch of self-centered, extremely materialistic Western Europeans think concerning many of the issues in the US.

    June 7th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    Pot…



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