President Bush’s Reception in Europe

We have been kicked out of the United Nations Human Rights Commission; we have been castigated by the rest of the world, particularly Europe, which allows no country to join the European Union unless it abolishes the death penalty; we have been criticized for rejecting the Kyoto Protocol to curb global warming, for President Bush’s stand on the strategic missile defense and for his continued sanctions on Iraq. Foreigners have described Bush as not a pleasant man, an assassin, an imbecile and the strangest American president most Europeans have ever seen (“Spaniards Roll Out the Unwelcome Mat for Bush,” June 13).

Of course, Bush is simply a not-too-competent spokesman for a corporate-controlled Republican presidency, but don’t you think that it might just be that the rest of the world is right and we are wrong?

Bob Murtha

Santa Maria

As our representative to the other countries of the world, we all wish Bush a successful journey abroad. Remember all those humorous, self-anointed experts who just knew the tacky, indefensible, private behavior of our former president was embarrassing the U.S. all over the world? Subsequent to Bush’s return from Europe, at some point, he will address the United Nations. Let’s compare his welcome there to Bill Clinton’s standing ovation at the U.N. near the end of his term in office. In no way is this meant to disparage the benefits and value of on-the-job training.

Bob Rubin

Costa Mesa

Do we really care what the Europeans think? Even though my lineage is from Europe, I do not care. Europe started two of the largest wars this world has ever witnessed. Today Europe has no rudder and is not only going in the wrong direction, Europeans do not even know in what direction they are traveling.

The only reason Europe wants us as an ally is for the U.S. to fight its wars. They start their wars; let them fight their wars, or maybe just not start any.

Francis Jansen

Northridge

Over the past several months, Bush has dispatched several high-level diplomatic teams of experts to Europe and Asia. Their goal was to convince those nations that America’s national missile defense is not a threat and is actually good for them.

Those teams didn’t have any luck in this endeavor, even in convincing our oldest allies. Russia and China are completely opposed, threatening an arms race if we proceed with development. I wonder when Bush is going to convince the American people that national missile defense is a good idea. If our government wants to spend another $100 billion on a technology that probably won’t work and start another nuclear arms race, it had better hire a better salesman!

Dennis E. Hamrick

Orange