Obama opened the appearance -- in a sports arena and before a French and German audience heavily made up of students -- with several minutes of prepared remarks read from a Teleprompter. In them, he underscored the importance of the relationship between Europe and America, and he encouraged Europe to support his retooled strategy to root out terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"I understand this war has been long. Our allies have already contributed greatly to this endeavor," Obama said. "Understand we would not deploy our own troops if this mission was not indispensable to our common security ... I understand there's doubt about his war in Europe. There's doubt even in the United States."
But he said the United States and its allies must continue to go after terrorist to ensure a safer world.
Obama bluntly said the relationship between the United States and Europe has gone adrift, with blame on both sides.
In America, he said, "there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world."
"There have been times when America's shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive," Obama said
WOW...U'd think he wasn't president of the US. Europe has done almost nothing for the war on terror....nothing. "there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world." ...I must have missed that. They let the genocide in the Balkans continue unabated until the US and Brits were dragged into it. Europe is worthless. This guy is a fool and a wuss. No mistake that his audience was made up of students.....Barry can't handle a tough crowd.
