Obama To Europe: Bon Courage

[Turborama]

Source: Financial Times

By Philip Stephens



Americans are grappling with an unfamiliar role. They are accustomed to running things – especially when those things involve going to war. Not this time. As the west’s fighter jets patrol the skies over Libya, President Barack Obama has told his generals and diplomats to stand back. We have been shown the new geopolitical landscape.

Europeans – or at least the French and the British – find this territory equally strange. Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron put themselves in the vanguard of diplomacy to stop Libya’s Muammer Gaddafi. When Mr Obama eventually consented, he attached a condition: you want it, you can own it.

It is more than half a century since Paris and London embarked on a military adventure together in this part of the world. Then, they were out to prove they were still great powers. Dwight Eisenhower soon put a stop to that. Now Washington is wishing its allies well. Unhappily, the Libyan mission, like Suez, could yet have an uncomfortable ending.

I am told that US diplomats are finding it a struggle to adjust to the new disposition of responsibilities. They are used to driving off in their chosen direction as others clamber aboard. It’s the natural order: Americans do things; Europeans talk about them. Washington does not wait on Paris and London.


Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de6d9e3e-5653-11e0-82aa-00144feab49a.html#ixzz1HbUNQsIx

[dipsydoodle]

1. Oh

I was never that impressed with it.



:hi:

[Vinee]

2. why shouldn't they be handling this, it's their oil supply they're fighting for, not ours.

[dipsydoodle]

4. But don't forget

that in its current absence those markets will buy what otherwise would've gone elsewhere.

[Vinee]

6. Oh yes, I realize this. We may see a drop in gas prices over this. Still not worth it IMO.

I'll bet we could make up that loss with domestic production just by opening up the gulf again.

[dipsydoodle]

8. You've got that back to front

unless the supply is increased to compensate you'll get a price increase : not a price reduction.

Aside from that your oil goes on the international market same as all other oil.

[Vinee]

9. Is that not what I said when I suggested making up the lost supply through offshore drilling?

This isn't just about supply and demand though, it's about middle eastern instability, speculation, and upcoming reelection campaigns.

[Turborama]

3. My fave all time ale is ESB

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

5. You and

most of my mates.

[tcaudilllg]

7. This is just the people in America who want the war trying to stand up for themselves

against their peers whose money they are relying on to finance it.

[Turborama]

10. What's the matter?

Babel Fish broken? :shrug: