Reheated Rice, not fried but Condi

Der Spiegel takes a look at what German Newspapers are saying about German/American relations after Condolezza Rice's dog and pony show. In short they say forget it.

And one of Germany's most influential papers, the weekly heavy-weight Die Zeit hasn't yet had a chance to chime in on the state of European-US relations. A wide-ranging, front-page editorial on Thursday, however, does just that. The paper takes as a starting point the assumption that, despite recent attempts on both sides to thaw the frosty air, the trans-ocean Cold War partnership is completely dead. "There is no way back to the Cold War unity born out of fate....The old enemy doesn't exist anymore and the (Cold) War generation has almost completely disappeared from political life. The remaining reflex -- the instinct of trust -- disappeared, at the latest, during the Iraq War." The result, writes the paper, is that the current rapprochement is based much more on realpolitik necessity than a deep-seated sense of partnership.

The problem, though, as the paper points out, is that there are a number of crises around the world whose solutions require Western unity. Solutions, "however, require not just smiles and handshakes, but diplomatic virtues like a sense for the correct tone and empathy for the position of the other side -- and a real readiness for compromise. The desire to heed these virtues is the test as to whether...the new partnership will last."

It doesn't sound like Condi made much of an impression with these folks.

The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is likewise skeptical as to whether Rice's whirlwind European trip will actually change a thing. Despite Washington's current "politics of smiles," there is no indication that either side has changed foreign policy courses. Indeed, the current improved trans-Atlantic climate appears based on vague agreements to work more closely together in the future. But: "To base a new chapter on that may change the style of the (recent relationship) a bit. But it is only interesting because one doesn't yet know if that was already the end (of the improvement.)"

Translation; too little too late.

This administration has burnt too many bridges. Any talk of improved relations is just that, talk. There was a time when Europe needed the United States so they would take a certain amount of abuse but they don't need the US enough to put up with the incredible abuse from the arrogant and ignorant neo/theo-cons in the Bush administration.