Henry Kissinger on American-European Relations

In an interview with Germany's conservative daily "Welt", Henry Kissinger made some insightful remarks on the state of American-European relations:

(Translation by Laín Coubert)

DIE WELT: When George W. Bush visited Europe a few weeks ago, he spoke of a new era of transatlantic relations. Many Europeans were skeptical, suspecting more style than substance. Is this mistrust justified?

Kissinger: Anyone familiar with President Bush knows that he means what he says. This differentiation between style and substance is out of place. Bush made an honest attempt to improve transatlantic relations. Now the ball is in the court of the Europeans. A true partnership can only develop if both sides are willing to scrutinize their own positions and make concessions. But many Europeans in fact continue to insist that the US president demonstrate his good will every day - without themselves saying what they are willing to do in exchange.

DIE WELT: Why do Europeans dislike Bush?

Kissinger: The political and intellectual center of gravity in the US has shifted somewhat away from the

East coast towards the southwest. As a consequence, the political style, the thinking and lifestyle have also changed. Many Europeans are unfamiliar with this kind of thinking, this attitude towards life; they do not understand it. In addition, Bush has also made a number of tactical errors. Apart from this, Bush has become a welcome scapegoat for Europeans. (…)

DIE WELT: The Iraq war has significantly damaged transatlantic relations. Have these wounds healed?

Kissinger (after a long pause): I don’t think so. During George W. Bush’s visit to Europe, the European statesmen were torn between two opposing political tasks. On the one hand they needed to reduce tensions with the US and improve relations in order to avoid a political blockade. But on the other hand they could not improve relations too much, at the risk of frightening off those who oppose the US as a matter of principle. The German government in particular attempted to walk the tightrope between these two poles.

DIE WELT: Will the relationship between the US and Europe ever be unbiased again?

Kissinger: There has always been conflict between Europeans and Americans. But these differences of opinion were never taken to extremes, as is now the case. It will be difficult to revive the spirit of camaraderie that we have lost.

DIE WELT: The discussion of lifting the EU arms embargo against China has also been a source of conflict. Do you think it makes sense to end these sanctions?

Kissinger: In the US, I am one of the strongest advocates of improving cooperation with China. In my opinion, cooperation between China and the US, between China and the EU is very important. I am convinced however that the arms embargo should not be lifted under any circumstances. Especially Europeans should not be advancing this issue so aggressively.

Comments

[Joe]

Need to proof read... soon I will in the same class as Pamala..... hehe....

*g*

[Will]

@Peter,
thanks for the answer but you don't understand my point. For the most part I agree with you but the center of your thinking is this:
"They also still fall from one extreme into another. Right after WW II, the admiration of Germans for America and everything American found no end and became almost a national embarrasment."

As a matter of fact we don't fall into extremes except being extremely ignorant.
My country men do what THEY BELIEVE (incorrectly !) is the golden middle between the extrems communism on the one hand and perceived dangerous and inhuman capitalism, I stress that I totally disagree but that's the prevalent logic.
WGermans started wars and they don't want to do this any more, we believe -again, that's not my personal view- in soft power.
And the UN (shudder) to prevent all these conflicts.
The results are dramatic, but the mentality behind it is moderation.

[Gabi]

Niko,

Kleine-Brockhoff hat immer noch zu wenig verstanden. Er schreibt:

"... Washingtons Politik des Demokratie-Exports leitete Bush mit einer schallenden Kritik amerikanischer Außenpolitik ein: »Jahrzehnte der Nachsicht und des Entgegenkommens gegenüber der Tyrannei im Namen der Stabilität haben letztlich nur zu Ungerechtigkeit, Instabilität und Tragödien geführt.« ... Er behauptet, nur Freiheit überall schaffe langfristig Frieden und Sicherheit zu Hause.

... Dem gegenwärtigen Amtsinhaber nimmt mancher kein Wort mehr ab, seit er den Irak-Krieg mit windigen Begründungen herbeiredete.

In die Freiheitspolitik ist Bush nämlich, wie Joe Klein in Time schreibt, »geflüchtet«. Als sich in Saddam Husseins Irak keine Massenvernichtungswaffen und keine Al-Qaida-Terroristen fanden, blieb aus dem Strauß der Kriegsbegründungen nur noch das Argument der Befreiung von der Tyrannei übrig. Seither hat Bush daraus eine kohärente Strategie entwickelt. ... Wenig später, am 8. März, wirbt der Präsident (Bush) in Washington für »Fortschritt«, »Hoffnung« und »Freiheit« im Nahen Osten, denn: »Der Status quo des Despotismus und der kollektiven Wut kann weder ignoriert noch beschwichtigt, weder eingehegt noch durch Geldzahlungen akzeptabel gemacht werden. Schließlich haben wir gesehen, wie einfach sich die Gewalt aus jener Region über Grenzen und Ozeane hinweg ausbreitet.« Für Schröder ist Frieden der zentrale Wert, für Bush Freiheit. Der Kern des transatlantischen Dauerstreits scheint sich damit zu wandeln: von der Kriegs- zur Freiheitsfrage.²

Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff hat die Politik der USA unter Bush bis heute nicht verstanden. Der Irakkrieg ist bereits Teil dieser neuen Außenpolitik. Ein Irak voller freier Iraker, ein Naher Osten mit freien Arabern ist der erste Schritt hin zum Frieden. Kurzfristiger Krieg im Irak, um langfristig Frieden für die Welt zu erreichen. Das kapiert Kleine-Brockhoff immer noch nicht. Es ging nicht um Massenwaffennichtungswaffen. Daß er das immer noch so naiv behauptet, finde ich ganz bedauerlich. Windige Behauptungen für den Irakkrieg? Wo denn? Schon da ging es um Freiheit, es ging darum, diese "kollektive Wut" beginnend im Irak zu stoppen, diesen Menschen eine Chance zu geben, die Welt anders zu verstehen als als permanente Erniedrigung durch den Westen. Freiheit ist auch Freiheit für die Frauen. Das wird gerne vergessen.

Kleine-Brockhoff hat immer noch nicht verstanden, daß Schröder nicht für Frieden steht, im Irak war KEIN FRIEDEN. Er hat immer noch nicht kapiert, daß Krieg mit einer begrenzten Zahl von Toten nötig ist, um Millionen zu retten.

Es gibt keinen Frieden für möglichst viele ohne Krieg. Es gibt keinen Frieden ohne Willen und Fähigkeit, diesen notfalls mit Gewalt zu verteidigen.

Sicher, da sind gute Sätze, aber die Basis dieses Artikels stimmt doch gar nicht. Wer den Irakkrieg nicht versteht, versteht die Außenpolitik der USA nicht.

Auch wünschte ich, er würde kapieren, daß diese Polarisierung, Europa - USA tödlich ist. Im Moment trifft diese kollektive Wut nur die USA und Israel. Aber dahinter kommt gleich Europa.

Mir haben diese nachstehenden Artikel gut gefallen:

http://www.my-merkur.de/4610.0.html?&no_cache=1:

GEDENKFEIERN / Berlin und Moskau: Versöhnung über die Köpfe der Balten hinweg
Pakt mit Beigeschmack

Der russische Präsident sehnt sich zurück nach dem Sowjetreich und spaltet Europa. Aus Deutschland muss er kein kritisches Wort befürchten.

THOMAS GUTSCHKER

hier

http://www.my-merkur.de/4472.0.html?&no_cache=1#

KRIEGSENDE / Die Floskel von der „Befreiung“ verdeckt mehr, als sie erklärt
Das Erbe des 8. Mai

Durch Hitlers Kapitulation bekamen die Deutschen endlich Freiheit – allerdings nur im Westen. Östlich der Elbe errichtete Stalin eine neue Gewaltherrschaft.

HUBERTUS KNABE

hier

http://www.my-merkur.de/4598.0.html?&no_cache=1#

DEUTSCHLAND-ISRAEL / Vor 40 Jahren nahmen Bonn und Tel Aviv diplomatische Beziehungen auf
Kalkulierte Versöhnung

Vor allem zwei Männernist die Partnerschaft zu verdanken: Ben Gurion und Adenauer. Was trieb die beiden dazu, sich die Hand zu reichen?

MICHAEL BORGSTEDE, TEL AVIV

hier

http://www.cicero.de/97.php?ress_id=1&item=230

cicero
Magazin für politische Kultur

Weltbühne

01.09.2004
Wacht auf, wir sind im Krieg!
von Leon de Winter

Der Islamist hasst uns, weil wir anders sind. Weil wir anders sind, sind wir sein Feind. Weil wir sein Feind sind, will er unseren Untergang. Wir haben keine Wahl: Wenn er uns zu seinem Feind erklärt, müssen wir uns verteidigen

hier

[Michael]

Americans are in fact much too busy to hate people.

I guess I just don't get this "busy" argument. I can be busy drinking pina colada and sitting by a pool. Always depends on what your priorities are. Basically you are claiming that non-Americans are by nature more likely "to hate" (while you have better things to do). If so, then I don't buy it.

You are correct and we agree that most European did not want GWB to elected. The majority of Americans wanted him to be elected. We have an election, which decided this issue. Actually more people voted for him than there are those who live in france.

I know that, and it's perfectly fine. My point was that your "encouraging the Germans to return the spd to power" argument is flawed. Best example is my father: I know that he has "certain negative sentiments" against America (though I wouldn't classify it as hate), but he still was not happy with the election of GWB.

I am not sure how you are able to get hate out of that. I interpret that as a statement more of indifference than anything else. It is much the way I feel. I am actually very indifferent to most of what Europe does.

For me, indifference would be to ignore this site and not even bother to comment. I hope you can understand that some Europeans reading a comment like this might in fact be a little of offended.

Maybe that's the reason so many people in Europe didnt' want their countries to support the US in the war against Afghanistan/Iraq - indifference. I mean, what do we care about the 9/11 victims? Bad luck, I guess. Haha. After all, it's only America - a bunch of arrogant, stupid jerks (except Michael Moore of course, we should make him an European).

What are your feelings when you hear somebody say something like that? I could imagine some people might be angry. I know I would.

Hate can show through indifference.

As for the spd, I have to assume you are happy with the results of their accomplishments as the governing party in Germany since 1998

Actually, you shouldn't assume that, as I've not made any statement here about my opinions on that matter.

[Huggy]

The problem with Germans as a group is that they are easily lead in directions that aren't good long term. Since Germans have been and are suffering from the results of this it would be a good thing if they changed.

Americans (black, white, hispanic, asian, other) are busy with their own affairs. As a group they would expect Germans to do likewise. Government is viewed similar to bad weather. If you don't like the weather then do something that mitigates it or relocate to somewhere where the weather is better.

Why should we have any real concern about Germany? Why does Germany have any real concern about the US. Germany is a wealthy country with industrius people. Just like Japan. Just Like the US.

It's ok if Germany doen't like the US. Build nukes. Iran and NK think that is the thing to do. Maybe it would be right for Germany also.

If NK isn't put on a leash by China then Japan might have to make nuke tipped missiles. If the EU starts making China into a military super-power then Japan will probably feel it has no choice.

Is China going to be the EU's (or Germany's) puppet? Don't think so! EU will be raped by China if China thinks it can get by with it. Ask Vietnam.

[Will]

@Gabi,
bei ZEIT Regisseuren ist Hopfen und Malz verloren.
Das sind einfach ungebildete Bauern.

[Will]

Redakteuren meinte ich natürlich.

[Mike Perry]

"From Miami to Los Angeles is 2,767 mi (about 1 day 21 hours) - not even two days. With two drivers, that is entirely feasible. I've driven from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY in 72 hours. By myself."

Yeah, but why spend several thousand dollars to come to the US, only see the blandness of our freeways? I've driven cross-country seven times, and the only parts I enjoyed were the times I stopped and got out of the car.

In the end these Germans did the right thing spending their vacation in Florida. They realized that they'd come to see and not to drive. They were particularly lucky not to have to drive across the vast and dry flatness that's west Texas. I always try to do that stretch as much at night as possible.

Mike Perry, Untangling Tolkien