Bush visit to Brussels, what to expect ?

Flandrien · February 19, 2005, 19:23

President Bush will arrive sunday evening, and stay until wednesday. On his agenda are meetings with Nato officials, and with head of state of every 25 EU states.

From a TV interview, he clearly stated that he does not come to Europe to make demands, but to find a common ground to work on and improve relations.

Not everybody likes his visit to Brussels, but I sure hope he succeeds in improving relations.

Link

On a side note, his relations with the journalist who did the interview went pretty well. At the end, he even tried to chat her up when the camera's were still running ('You have really beautiful eyes').
The sly fox.

Winston · February 19, 2005, 19:32

Trans-Atlantic relations

Our PM has actually postponed his opening speech to the newly elected Parliament following the election and the formation of the cabinet, to be able to participate in Brussels.

First Parliamentary session will be on Thursday instead of Tuesday, highly irregular everyone agrees, but I think it shows the importance of the talks they'll be having in the coming days.

Provost Harrison · February 19, 2005, 19:36

*crosses fingers*

Assassination?

I still check the BBC now and again just in case Thatcher has died and I haven't heard it

Last Conformist · February 19, 2005, 19:46

They're really taking this charm offensive seriously, aren't they?

Sprayber · February 19, 2005, 19:50

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
*crosses fingers*

Assassination?

I still check the BBC now and again just in case Thatcher has died and I haven't heard it

Not much going on to occupy yourself uh?

Traianvs · February 19, 2005, 20:10

What I think is going to happen?

Remember what happened to Gates when he wandered up here =>

^^

Shi Huangdi · February 19, 2005, 20:50

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
*crosses fingers*

Trying to get the Secret Service to start visting Poly, eh Provost?

Spiffor · February 19, 2005, 22:44

BTW, was Bill Gates seething after the act?

In general, a cream-pie in the face brings the worst out of pressured people. I don't remember if Gates was merely annoyed, or if he was on the verge to kill... In any case, the pie-guy has been brutalized quite a few times by his victims (who aren't precisely athletes though)

alva · February 20, 2005, 05:27

BTW, was Bill Gates seething after the act?

Oh Yes, he was...

He wouldn't even talk about it in an interview a couple of years later and was still visibly p*ssed off with it.

alva · February 20, 2005, 05:28

On a side note, his relations with the journalist who did the interview went pretty well. At the end, he even tried to chat her up when the camera's were still running ('You have really beautiful eyes').
The sly fox.

Did anyone phone Kenneth Star?

Provost Harrison · February 20, 2005, 05:29

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi

Trying to get the Secret Service to start visting Poly, eh Provost?

Just wishful thinking...

molly bloom · February 20, 2005, 09:00

Death by chocolate.

Solver · February 20, 2005, 09:34

Gates was not too annoyed, IIRC, he said he wouldn't prosecute the pie guy in the court. I, on the other hand, would have shot him.

molly bloom · February 20, 2005, 09:38

Originally posted by Solver
Gates was not too annoyed, IIRC, he said he wouldn't prosecute the pie guy in the court. I, on the other hand, would have shot him.

I'd hate to be serving in your local patisserie.

Solver · February 20, 2005, 09:41

Come on, I may be nice and shoot in the legs

.

molly bloom · February 20, 2005, 09:42

Originally posted by Solver
Come on, I may be nice and shoot in the legs

.

Oh well, just a rock cake to the crotch then.

Solver · February 20, 2005, 09:43

Now, armored underwear that is light to wear should go to the useful invention thread.

Pekka · February 20, 2005, 09:45

Already been invented. They call it the 'cup'. For not realizing this I reward you with a rock cake to your unprotected groin and mix fat lady armpit sweat into your drink and vanish before you can retaliate and/or find me.

Solver · February 20, 2005, 09:46

From this day on, I'll blame you whenever something wrong.

Pekka · February 20, 2005, 09:46

Good!

Solver · February 20, 2005, 09:47

Yeah, you've now secured an eternal place for yourself in my thoughts.

Pekka · February 20, 2005, 09:48

*tear* I'm so sad right now! Wait.. no I'm not.. Haheahea

Immortal Wombat · February 20, 2005, 11:46

Originally posted by Spiffor
In general, a cream-pie in the face brings the worst out of pressured people. I don't remember if Gates was merely annoyed, or if he was on the verge to kill... In any case, the pie-guy has been brutalized quite a few times by his victims (who aren't precisely athletes though)

Anything to face provokes a much stronger instinctive reaction than hits to the body. Most people will turn around with a burning rage if hit with any force. It takes a lot of self-control to laugh it off plausibly.

PLATO · February 20, 2005, 14:44

Ahem...

Back on topic.
Bush is speaking all the right words. This is a talent of his going into negotiations, but rarely backed up in the negotiations. His idea of reaching a consensus is everybody deciding to see it his way. If this trait has truly changed, then perhaps we will see some thaw in Trans-Atlantic relations. If not, then things may actually get worse. Key items to watch: Bush on Euro efforts with Iran. EU on training efforts NATO WRT Iraqi forces. Joint communique WRT situation in Lebanon/Syria.

If there is some type of concrete consensus on any of these issues then we can say progress has been made.

Spiffor · February 20, 2005, 14:54

Originally posted by PLATO
Ahem...

Back on topic.
Bush is speaking all the right words. This is a talent of his going into negotiations, but rarely backed up in the negotiations. His idea of reaching a consensus is everybody deciding to see it his way.

Yep, I think that's why the Bushies were so furious when Chirac and Schröder "rebelled". Fortunately, Bush may have grown the wiser, with the experience of the Iraqi quagmire.

If this trait has truly changed, then perhaps we will see some thaw in Trans-Atlantic relations. If not, then things may actually get worse. Key items to watch: Bush on Euro efforts with Iran. EU on training efforts NATO WRT Iraqi forces. Joint communique WRT situation in Lebanon/Syria.

I have heard the US plan to back our efforts in Iran. I was immensely surprised, considering that the Americans generally scoff at diplomatic attempts to have rogue States change their ways. I was even more surprised, because the "nice guy" approach failed in North Korea a short time ago. However, should Bush continue to back our efforts, I think that will be interpreted as a serious token of trust. Now, the American diplomacy should make it clear (that it's a token of trust), and the European diplomacy should understand it.

Actually, I think there is a new transatlantic understanding forming, considering the latest UN resolution against Syria that was sponsored both by the US and France.

Unless one side ****s it up in the future, the Iraqi diplomatic debacle may have succeeded at promoting a new form of transatlantic cooperation, where the US and European countries listen to each other, and agree to make concessions to each other. That certainly beats the vassalism that Bush envisioned in the buildup of the Iraq war.

PLATO · February 20, 2005, 15:01

Originally posted by Spiffor

Unless one side ****s it up in the future, the Iraqi diplomatic debacle may have succeeded at promoting a new form of transatlantic cooperation, where the US and European countries listen to each other, and agree to make concessions to each other.

I have great hope that this will be the case. The major perception of Europe over here right now is "Good intentions with no will to act". Well, usually we believe they have good intentions.

That certainly beats the vassalism that Bush envisioned in the buildup of the Iraq war.

You would have made excellent vassals however...

Provost Harrison · February 20, 2005, 15:02

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat

Anything to face provokes a much stronger instinctive reaction than hits to the body. Most people will turn around with a burning rage if hit with any force. It takes a lot of self-control to laugh it off plausibly.

John Prescott and eggs anyone?

Flandrien · February 20, 2005, 17:13

Originally posted by PLATO
His idea of reaching a consensus is everybody deciding to see it his way.

Reaching a consensus (any consensus) would already be a success, given how difficult this is in the EU.

Things would be much easier if the EU had a president, like the US, but that is only wishful thinking of course.

Flandrien · February 22, 2005, 13:59

Results so far : all EU members will make a contribution to a NATO fund to finance training for Iraki military.
Some contributions will be rather modest though (Belgium is donating 300 000 € I think)

Next topic : will the weapons embargo against China be ended ?