Have Your Naysay

Can President Bush rebuild bridges in Europe? What should be Mr Bush's priorities in Europe? Send us your views using the form on the right.

Consider it a new Marshall Plan. Europe destroyed these bridges, and are now wanting Americans to rebuild them.

Let's face it; everything revolves around money in our sad, greedy world. Bush will build his bridges, whilst he continues to ruin America from the inside, and tramples on truth and freedom for others worldwide. I have no respect left for our governments here in Europe.
Jennifer Hynes, UK

Well we agree on one thing, Jennifer.

Bush and his administration have plainly showed that they will do whatever they want regardless of how Europeans (or Americans) feel about it. They will fear-monger in order to achieve their aims and now expect to be welcomed? I trust Bush and Rice about as far as I could throw a fully-laden oil tanker.
Dan, Hampton, UK

Cliche award winner! Let's see if we can find a bigger cliche out there!

Bush does not need Europe. His priority is to ensure that never again is his country attacked by government-backed terrorists. Hence the overthrow of the evil regimes that once ruled Afghanistan and Iraq. (There's more to come). Europe should be thankful that he has decided make the trip!
Norman Day, UK

It's not me, honest! I tend to agree, though.

Yes, Bush can rebuild bridges quite easily. It suffices to start using the term "human rights" every time he says "freedom" - and show he means it, of course. Or he could just do something about the weak dollar, that'd probably be enough already...
Koen van Hees, France

Lectures from France are always useful. So can anyone tell me what France did for human rights in Iraq before the war? Afghanistan? Anywhere?

The best Bush can hope for is a slight thawing in his relationship with Chirac. When even the UK appears to be diverging from US policy on Iran, there really is little hope for US-EU relations. 2008 can't come soon enough.
Patrick, Leicester, UK

Ah, yes. President Rice, anyone? US-EU relations will continue to diverge so long as America says, "Let's do something about those brutal dictators!" and Europe answers with, "Yeah, like more business deals!"

That depends. Is he going to admit that he made mistakes and that he shouldn't have accused independent European democracies of sponsoring terrorism? Or is he going to pretend that he did nothing wrong? He was the one who decided that America could go about things on their own so he should be the one to apologise for past mistakes.
Christine, UK

Hey, lady, the mothership is calling for you! I guess this lady considers Iran an independent European democracy? Or is it Syria? Your way, Saddam still dropping people into shredders. Our way, Iraqis voting.

No, of course not. Everyone knows Bush is only making this gesture now because he needs European help. Superficially, there will be a lot of smiles and handshaking, but deep in their hearts the major European leaders have absolutely no respect left for Bush. And who can blame them! Bridges between Europe and America cannot truly be rebuilt until Bush is no longer president. Even Blair, his only faithful follower, has to lie low now because of the forthcoming UK elections.
Jeannette, UK

Whereas when we were trying to get European help (giggle, snort) before we was jus' funnin'. America has sought European assistance every step of the way. We did not choose to go it alone, many of our "allies" chose not to go with us after having been asked. That's not even what really smarts. It was the French bribes to African nations on the UN Security Council and the active lobbying against us that hurt the most. At least we can respect ourselves, jag-off.

Bush cannot mend his relationship with Europe as a matter of fact or with any other countries, as there has been no change in his attitudes. Rice's smile cannot change anything. Only way to amend things is to change the US attitude and behaviour in world affairs. He has to change his administration, fire all the secretaries including Rice, Rumsfeld and Cheney.
Tateishi, Malaga, Spain

Was it the attitude that we should not support dictators that got ya, or the one that says they should be held accountable? And don't forget that Americans must surrender to terrorists! That is the Spanish way! Americans believe that if we work hard enough and fight hard enough we can leave a better world to our children. Europeans think that is simplistic.

I hope that the EU is smart enough not to rebuild anything with Bush but rather pay closer attention to what he does and not what he says. Bush's priorities should be to the heal the rift with Europe by listening to what the world and (most)of the US are saying about saving the environment, stopping the war and putting the working class ahead of big business. If he is going to promote "freedom" he should understand the word the way the rest of us understand it, not his double speak where freedom means oppression of all but the most wealthy and powerful.
Yvonne, Ithaca USA

Awwww...a filthy Communist/hippy! I love these guys, and I knew we could find a bigger cliche. Don't worry about the mean people who want to kill everyone who don't subscribe to their religion, we need to sing songs to mother earth. Stop that warrin' you silly sally! And above all, steal from the rich to give to the poor! It is people who have worked hard and made a nice life for themselves and their families who are the true evil! -- Hey, Yvonne, get a job, skank. Get off welfare I'm tired of supporting you.

There needs to be political dialogue of course. But Europeans should be ever vigilant. Bush has no exit strategy in Iraq because he has no intention of leaving the mid-east. On the contrary he plans to occupy/surround those parts of the Middle East (Iraq, Iran, S Arabia) where there is oil. His network of bases around the world sit astride the oil routes. He threatens Venezuela's democratically-elected president because of oil. In my view, Bush plans to control the world's oil supplies as production goes into decline. I believe our children will live in a very dangerous world.
David, Portland, Or, USA ex London UK

Vigilant Europeans. The world is quaking. And we know, we know. President Bush stopped in Belgium today because he wants their oil. President Bush made Condi Rice Secretary of State because he wants her oil. He gave a State of the Union to Congress so he could build bases in the capitol building and get their oil. He had twin daughters so he could steal their oil...

and finally...

I think that the one person can rebuild bridges in Europe is Mr Bush. The aspirations of Mr Bush can stress on Iran and cause Iran to stop development of nuclear weapons, oppression on innocent people and terrorism. Mr Bush with his colleagues can change the regime of Iran and by so doing the world can be at peace.
Aras, Sanandaj, Iran

Freedom, anyone?