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Originally Posted by Rich
Here's what I find funny.
The Bush administration claims to be supporting democracy around the world. What is their idea of democracy?
Almost all of Europe was against the war in Iraq from the start. Huge numbers against it, 7-20% popular support for it in most countries. "New Europe", as the administration termed it, countries like Italy, Spain Poland, Ukraine, etc, had leaders send troops against the popular will of their people. They were praised by the administration. "Old Europe", Germany and France, had leaders who acted in accordance with the will of their people, and were against the war. They were criticized, as was Canada, whose politicians also acted according to the will of the people.
My point, what kind of democracy is Bush so fond of? He seems to be against governments who listen to the will of the population when it opposes US interests. That's what democracy is all about, right? He's talking about spreading democracy to the middle east while he's opposing it in Europe and North America.
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You need to study world history a bit more - It's call "appeasement" and Europe seems to be rather fond of it.
Europe's idea here is "slap sanctions on them and they'll come around sooner or later". Ten years of sactions did nothing but make Saddam richer, while Iraq violated a number of UN agreements on a daily basis.
Perhaps if France was patroling the no fly zone - set up by the UN - and it was Frenchment getting shot at on a daily basis they'd think differently.
Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.