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| Europe |
| New Diplomatic Incident Between Belgium and U.S. |
| 2004-01-30 |
| Tip o’ the hat to BrusselsBlog, who also provides the translation of the original source. BRUSSELS -- Colin Powell, on the request of the white house, has called his Belgian colleague Louis Michel to express new American dissatisfaction. Everything revolves around an interview with the Minister of Defense, André Flahaut, in Humo (ed. a magazine). The pronouncement: "If I were an American, I would vote for a democrat’’ is considered by Washington to be unacceptable interference. Also some opinions on the American army have been taken very seriously. Yep, that’s serious. Prime Ministere Guy Verhofstadt was already informed last Friday by the American embassy in Brussels that there was a new row coming with Washington. Everything revolves around an interview in the magazine Humo of last week, with minister André Flahaut (PS). Which was quickly translated at the embassy of the United States in Brussels, as is usual nowadays, and sent to Washington. At the Pentagon, the State department and even the White House responses were furious. Especially the passage concerning his preference for a Democrat in the White House was not taken well. But also Flahauts considerations concerning "the inefficient American army", the genocide law and the actions of the US in Iraq and Iran have caused large rancour. As opposed to the mighty Belgian Army According to Flahaut: "The Americans throw so much money at their army that it simply can no longer act efficiently. If they have to get fifteen men from point A to point B, they will use three planes to be certain that it succeeds. We would send one plane, or even better: first examine if we cannot I think I see why we call them weasels. American circles confirmed yesterday that Flahaut, now more than ever, has been declared persona non grata in Washington. Let’s make that official, be nice to watch the reaction. After lecture of the interview also premier Verhofstadt, who wants to avoid a new row at any cost with the US, Friday immediately has written a letter to his Minister of Defense. In this he calls Flahauts judgements "inappropriate with regards to an ally ’’. In the highest government circles it is not ruled out that it will stay at that. If he’s serious he’ll bounce this guy. If he doesn’t, we’ll know he isn’t serious. Also Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel (MR), who had just started a charm offensive directed at the US, could not appreciate Flahauts demarche. He refused all comment yesterday however. "Get that camera outta here!" |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #21 I should have said, does that make the world a whore or a golddigger? |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-1-30 10:55:17 PM |
| #20 They don't respect us, but they sure do love our money. Does that make the world a whore? We've moved on from respect, Faisal, that's why all the yammering. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-1-30 10:54:31 PM |
| #19 Remind me again why NATO headquarters isn't in Warsaw? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-1-30 10:03:09 PM |
| #18 They do make some mean looking guns though. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-1-30 8:49:26 PM |
| #17 Ooooh, the Belgians are so CUTE when they pretend to know about military things!! |
| Posted by: anon 2004-1-30 8:37:43 PM |
| #16 Belgium has a Minister of Defense? Why? Talk about your ultimate hack job... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-1-30 8:19:05 PM |
| #15 No respect You mean like respect Hamas has for human life, or the respect that Muslims have for women? |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-1-30 7:17:56 PM |
| #14 Yo Faisal: *yaaawn* |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-1-30 6:13:53 PM |
| #13 guess the interview 'hit' Mr powerll in the right place. Interference? what interference?. Yankees..open yr eyes and move out and see how you are treated by the nations around the world. No respect. |
| Posted by: Faisal 2004-1-30 5:57:56 PM |
| #12 Hell, I wish you were right Hiryu, but I expect it was too much MASH and Sgt. Bilko... F-Troop, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, Gomer Pyle USMC..... hey wait a minute! I see a pattern here. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-30 5:24:35 PM |
| #11 Too many moronic Europeans have formed their vision of the US Army from one too many viewings of Platoon or Apocalypse Now. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2004-1-30 2:11:20 PM |
| #10 Whoever wrote the screenplay for "If This Is Tuesday, Than This Must Be Belgium"??? |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2004-1-30 2:09:03 PM |
| #9 I guess My response is: So? I really don't care what third-world countries (Ghana, Cuba, Belgium) think or say, if they can't do anything about it. Who won the award for the most gratuitous use of the word "Belgium" in a screenplay? |
| Posted by: Jackal 2004-1-30 2:00:05 PM |
| #8 go back to making waffles sweet heart....let the real warriors handle the wars. My high school football team could probably take Belgium. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-1-30 1:16:40 PM |
| #7 actions of the US in Iraq and Iran The US invaded Iran??? Why do I always hear things after the fact damnit... |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-1-30 1:08:09 PM |
| #6 "the inefficient American army" Well, we did take longer to kick the Germans out than it took for the Germans to overrun the country. OTOH, any country made up of Phlegms and Loons... |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-1-30 12:39:43 PM |
| #5 The statue most iconic of the US: Statue of Liberty. The statue most iconic of Belgium: Mannequin Piss. 'Nuf said. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-1-30 12:12:13 PM |
| #4 typical sour grapes - I dont have any money, so I piss on those who do. That ally he would catch a ride with is likely to be a us plane. |
| Posted by: flash91 2004-1-30 12:05:13 PM |
| #3 "the inefficient American army", what is this bizarro world (superman comic reference) ;) What part of the fact that the US has the most efficient, dominating military relative to it's peers that has ever existed is he confused about? What a dope. It's even better that he's from BELGIUM! Do they even have a military? |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-1-30 11:48:31 AM |
| #2 That there is a Belgium is a freak of nature. The only thing they would ever send is a letter. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-30 11:39:13 AM |
| #1 We would send one plane, or even better: first examine if we cannot fly along with an ally’’ Does belgium even HAVE a heavy lift cargo plane? By that I mean one that WE DIDN'T PAY FOR. I guess since their 'army' is a platoon of mimes, they can go commercial. Hell with that, load up NATO and get them out of there (at least our part, which is 99% of it). |
| Posted by: 4thInfVet 2004-1-30 10:43:39 AM |