Obama in Europe.....Change of Tone

      The young and untried President Obama, like John Kennedy, came to Europe and was tested. There was no Cold War or Krushchev or Berlin Wall this time, only the Gallic "cockerel" Sarkozy and the Germanic "nein- frau" Merkel, a NATO in turmoil and an economic meltdown. Krushchev thought that Kennedy was weak and would test him in Cuba. Merkel and Sarkozy threatened to walk out if measures were not taken to restrict running up vasts deficits by too much stimulating. The Czech leader talked about the system going to "hell",  the "nip and tuck" Berlusconi got a chance to meet "the young, handsome and tanned"Obama and Lula de Silva got to meet " the white blue-eyes" responsible for the economic debacle . At the end of the G20 meeting, Merkel was cooing about an "almost historic compromise"(she has an election coming up), Sarkozy was skipping with joy, the Czech was nowhere to be seen (Harper was missing on a toilet break) the Russian "teddy bear" Medvedev agreed to talks aimed reducing nuclear weapons , Obama promised to visit Russia and it was agreed to pump  $1 trillion into the International Monetary Fund and to use other mechanisms to support struggling states and to enhance trade. "Protectionism" which was so devastating after the 1933 meeting was not to be seen or heard. All in all after all the "hemming and hawing", there were only "oohs and aahs", over Michele and Barak. Everyone wanted to be seen and photographed with these naturals.

      The next hurdle was the recalcitrant members of NATO, especially France, Germany and the newly minted members from Eastern and Cental Europe. By the way, NATO....The North Atlantic Organisation, is now a misnomer. It is no longer the body that was created in 1949 to meet possible Soviet aggression, not with 28 members mostly from Eastern and Central Europe.....Poland, Estonia Bulgaria,Slovenia, etc. There is now a new committment...deployment of 5,000 troops as renforcement for Afghan election, training of security forces and police and $500 million for civilian assistance and $100 million for the Afghan National Army. Additional forces from Spain, Germany, Polandand Hungary and also more trainers from Britain, Italy,Bulgaria, Estonia,Greece,Turkey, Slovakia and two F-16 fighter aircraft from Belgium. There was also an agreement to establish a NATO mission to oversee training of Afghan army and police.

      Pres. Obama's approach was the key. He set the tone by saying at the beginning that he was not there to lecture but to listen. "America is changing, but it cannot be America alone that changes", he said. It is now "a new era of responsibility", he continued, and "United States does not and will not torture". This new tone was refreshing and reassuring. He lavished praise on Sarkozy, who in a symbolic gesture promise to accept one prisoner from Guantanomo Bay prison. Relations with Europe, especially France and Germany had been poisoned by Bush's unilateral invasion of Iraq and the harsh and condemnatory rhetoric that he used to bully and threaten. Instead, Pres. Obama urged a shift in attitudes, saying that " there had been a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world" and that there had been "times when America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive". He went on " on both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common-they are not wise".

      Much has been accomplished by this trip. He did not trip up. He was poised and polished. He reassured a skeptical political class( the G-20 leaders) and he even mediated between Sarkozy and the Chinese leader who were squabbling. He was the elder statesman there. He was instrumental in creating a new atmoshpere of relationships. No one left in petulance. Many subjected their egos. Quite an accomplishment, Mr. President.