U.S. Warned on Alienating Central Europe

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031107/ap_on_re_eu/us_europe_iraq&cid=518&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON - A former Polish government official warned on Friday that the United States is on the brink of alienating Central European allies who hoped their support in Iraq would translate into better treatment overall by America.

In an editorial in The Washington Post, Radek Sikorski, former deputy minister for defense and foreign affairs, said dissatisfaction is welling in Central European nations over a variety of issues, such as obtaining U.S. visas, modernizing their militaries, and getting a fairer share of reconstruction work in Iraq.

"The new democracies risked the wrath of France and Germany, whose favors they need as they enter the European Union (news - web sites), and they backed up their words with deeds," Sikorski wrote. "... Surely, most believed, the United States would want to show that it pays to be America's friend. Now, it seems that Central Europeans will be disappointed."

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher replied: "The question is not so much the direct rewards, the immediate rewards, the immediate contracts. ... The question is whether this project as a whole is fundamentally in the interests of all of us. And the answer, I think, is yes."

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[slor]

1. The fools running this country...

first angered the "chocolate makers" now they are going to risk the yugo-makers too?!?

[ThorsteinVeblen]

2. Boucher is a fucking idiot

if that is what he really believes. "New Europe" didn't support the US out of any moral imperitive. They supported the US for the same reason the US went to war in Iraq - CASH MONEY and control over natural resources.

The greed of Halliburton and Bechtel and the rest of the war profiteers is going to stand in the way of the Bush administration granting "New Europe" any sweetheart deals in Iraq.

I am going to laugh my ass off when "New Europe" tells the US to "Fuck Off".

[displacedtexan]

3. Suckers!

n/t

[denverbill]

4. Shut up you moron eastern European countries.

Bush doesn't give a shit about you. He's pissed on France who has been our ally since 1776 or so. He's pissed on Germany who has been our friend since 1946. Why the hell should he give a damn about a couple podunk eastern European countries that haven't even contributed 1 cent to his reelection campaign?

[leesa]

16. But they are New Europe...the future of Europe!

[Onward]

5. So This is What We Do?

..just go around the world handing out bribes for various favors?

[T Bone]

6. Bush promises bribes and then reneges

He's a crook who can be a uniter, that's for sure !

[lumpy]

7. Evidently the bribes haven't been big enough.

It costs a lot of money if anyone is willing to stand on the wrong side of the fence where the swamp is deeper.

[hang a left]

17. no, I think what they are saying is you promised us __________

if we supported your Iraq strategy. But you haven't kept your word about granting us ____________. We are starting to feel like we got screwed, you know. So either your word is to be trusted or it is not.
You are either with us or you are against us.

[many a good man]

8. Should have gone for the cash...

Whaddaya expect? They're "new."

[hang a left]

18. tee hee

[Beetwasher]

9. They Should All Take Lessons From Turkey!

Now THOSE guys know how to play the Bush suckers and GOOD! All the money and none of the troops.

[denverbill]

10. Good point. Turkey has been our 'ally' longer, so I guess they know.

[Orrin_73]

13. You are wrong about that

Turkey has been offered 8.5 billion but it was tied to future cooperation, now that Turkey will not send troops they will not get the money either. Now that the Turkish economy is doing well Turkey is able to get money from foreign banks at an interest rate much lower then the US loan. So they dont need the money either.

[teryang]

11. It's a steep learning curve for the newly recruited

...victims of the BFEE scamsketeers.

[gulliver]

12. Bush motto: "Put it on my tab."

The first bill collectors come to call. Unfortunately, Bush just maxed out his credit card with an $87 billion charge.

[Mikimouse]

14. I hope that my dear ancestral countrymen are taking notes!

They signed on to this Iraq idiocy for exactly the reasons the Poels are now discussing. I'll just bet that they figured that they would get some kind of preferential treatment because of their efforts. Magyar Marhak!

[dArKeR]

15. The whole world knows Bush's America is a Land of Butchers. Everyone

knows this except the Sheeple.