Mr. Bush Goes to Madrid

President George W. Bush’s first trip to Europe provided fodder for journalists across the continent. But their reactions varied widely. In countries Bush didn’t visit--like Germany, France and England--columnists rushed to judgment. In Spain, Bush’s first stop, the papers seemed almost appreciative. What follows is a sampling of commentary from European newspapers:

Bild (Hamburg)

“He is giving his best allies a wide berth--and why? Bush is acting as if his partners Schroeder, Chirac and Blair make him feel uneasy .... It seems clear that the American president wants to demonstrate his superiority.”

La Vanguardia (Barcelona)

“The visit of the American president to Madrid has helped to confirm that his positions on issues are not received with the hostility here that they provoke in other capitals on this continent.”

The Guardian (London)

“No U.S. president for decades, not even Ronald Reagan, has attracted as much unpopularity in Europe as Mr. Bush and his brand of Texan redneck policies.”

El Mundo (Madrid)

“The president of the United States demonstrated that he had prepared thoroughly for his first public test on European soil. He dealt skillfully with thornier issues like the death penalty and his rejection of the Kyoto Protocol, areas where there are differences between him and his European allies, reassuring Europeans that he is willing to engage in a dialogue.”

The Independent (London)

“We sneer at Mr. Bush’s first foray into Europe this week as a modern Mr. Malaprop’s progress, while the leaders of France and Germany, the EU’s most influential powers, deliberately choose that very moment to thumb their noses at Washington by jointly signaling their opposition to his, admittedly regrettable, policies on missile defense and global warming. But the Middle East is proof again that while Europe aspires to influence in most of the great conflicts of our time, only America truly possesses it.”