Dov Zakheim: Well I think the most important thing is to think about Europe. I’ve seen all too often people take the Europeans for granted. In other words, I’ve been in government. And you have these interagency decisions, so called. So guess what? The State, and Defense, and the NSC and whoever all agree, that’s it! And then we go off to negotiate with whoever and discover that they don’t agree with us. And I’ve seen people look absolutely stunned, as if, “Well, if we all agreed inside the U.S. government, and that was so hard to do, shouldn’t these other guys come along?” So number one is to recognize they all have their national interests. And yes there’s a lot of overlap, but it’s not congruent. You asked me about Israel. Same thing. There’s overlap, but there’s not congruence. Secondly, because we share these values, and because there are now a group of 400 some odd million people who have done something that history hasn’t seen before – bury the hatchet – Germans and French don’t think about killing each other anymore. It wasn’t that long ago that’s all they thought about. They are, or can be, a force to work alongside of us. We do it at times. We spend a lot more talking about it than actually doing it. And when we do it – and again, Afghanistan is a perfect example – it seems to work. The Balkans. It seems to work. When we don’t do it – when we just talk about it – then we wind up, first of all, at each other’s throats. And secondly, we don’t achieve the objectives that we want. But of course, that also means give in a little. A senator once said to me when I was up for confirmation, he said, “Dov, you know how it is around here. You give a little to get a little.” Well guess what? That’s how it is everywhere.
Recorded on: 7/2/07
Discuss
Steven Devijver on January 8, 2008, 4:43 AM
The US-EU relationship is now faced with a problem created during the Bush administration.
Since 2001 in EU governments have assisted or stood idle in the face of illegal kidnappings by the CIA.
EU citizens want these crimes committed by their governments exposed and prosecuted. Will the next US administration make this possible, or instead prevent it?
Expect EU citizens to upset if the US does not open its books on extraordinary renditions, secret CIA flights and secret prisons.
Steven Devijver on January 8, 2008, 9:43 AM
The US-EU relationship is now faced with a problem created during the Bush administration.
Since 2001 in EU governments have assisted or stood idle in the face of illegal kidnappings by the CIA.
EU citizens want these crimes committed by their governments exposed and prosecuted. Will the next US administration make this possible, or instead prevent it?
Expect EU citizens to upset if the US does not open its books on extraordinary renditions, secret CIA flights and secret prisons.
Joe Bloggs on January 17, 2008, 12:50 AM
very true
Joe Bloggs on January 17, 2008, 5:50 AM
very true
Jen Something on February 13, 2008, 5:45 PM
Ya, about that National I.D. I DON'T WANT IT!
www.investigatethesec.com
www.thesanitycheck.com
Jen Something on February 13, 2008, 10:45 PM
Ya, about that National I.D. I DON’T WANT IT!
www.investigatethesec.com
www.thesanitycheck.com
Johnathen Brandlemeyer on April 12, 2008, 9:22 PM
Time to bury the hatchet? Yeah, it's about that time. How should the U.S. re-engage with Europe? Well first of all we should gather up all of the thieving, neo-Nazi genocidal Zionists and give them some extra heavy-duty pampers to wear so they don't make a great big stinky mess when they find out they're getting the death penalty for genocide. What size do you wear Zakheim?
Do you really believe you'll get away with what you've done? You look like the type of guy that runs a marathon worth of big, nervous circles in your mind everyday. i bet you don't sleep well at night and i bet you wish you could take it back. Sorry. i wish you could too.
One good thing about you Jews is that you understand the spirit world and mysticism. i'd be nervous too if i were you.
Sleep tight Dov. Don't let the demons bite.
Johnathen Brandlemeyer on April 13, 2008, 1:22 AM
Time to bury the hatchet? Yeah, it’s about that time. How should the U.S. re-engage with Europe? Well first of all we should gather up all of the thieving, neo-Nazi genocidal Zionists and give them some extra heavy-duty pampers to wear so they don’t make a great big stinky mess when they find out they’re getting the death penalty for genocide. What size do you wear Zakheim?
Do you really believe you’ll get away with what you’ve done? You look like the type of guy that runs a marathon worth of big, nervous circles in your mind everyday. i bet you don’t sleep well at night and i bet you wish you could take it back. Sorry. i wish you could too.
One good thing about you Jews is that you understand the spirit world and mysticism. i’d be nervous too if i were you.
Sleep tight Dov. Don’t let the demons bite.
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