America’s leader at the forefront of world problems

In what was touted as a “routine” visit to Europe, amidst stinging criticism from left-wing extremists, President George W. Bush of the United States of America braved all obstacles and delivered, what I think, was a remarkable policy speech at a conference room in Brussels, Belgium last February 21.

No less than 88 militant, environmental and other finicky groups planned demonstrations for the day. Fortunately, none was reported to have been rowdy or disruptive.

However, the limelight was clearly not on the side of the dissidents but rather on the American leader who, in this time and age of world turmoil due to incessant international terrorism, confidently and assertively finds courage in his own faith to the Almighty to guide him in his duty and responsibility to safeguard not only the lands of the superpower nation but also of the entire world.

I saw most of the speech at cable television, most specifically Fox News, and what struck me the most was the striking moderate tone of the president while delivering his speech. Prior the live feed of the speech, pundits dished out “expert” advice on what the president should do while on his European tour and one of the interviewees claimed that since the United States is the greatest country on Earth (why people say this I still don’t quite comprehend), its leader shouldn’t be out there trying to mend fences with lower countries. Of course he didn’t say exactly that but that was the implied message. Regardless, the president clearly went the route of the peacemaker and tried to reach out to America’s European allies, most of which are in stark contrast to his policies.

“No passing disagreement of governments, no power on Earth will ever divide us."

These outstanding words by the US president summarized the entire speech for me. It means that even in these harsh times where politicking, mud-slinging, and people-pleasing-but-illogical-decision-making (ahem, France) seems to be the order of the day, America and Europe is still the world’s closest allies. They have been like that since the First World War, and they will be until the word “war” ceases to be part of every language’s vocabulary.

With world problems at an almost mind-breaking high – North Korea’s nuclear weapons program; Iraq’s continued instability; the recent Banda Aceh quake which sent out the killer tsunami; the still-existing conflict between Palestine and Israel; Russia’s apparent stalling of democratic proceedings and institutions; Syria’s continued occupation of Lebanon; Iran’s uncooperativeness in nuclear talks; Africa’s poverty problems; the United Nations’ escalating image problem amidst the “oil-for-food” scandal and the recent “forced” resignation of its refugee chief due to sexual allegations; and of course who can forget the growing tension about global warming brought about by record levels of industrial emission – the only way to possibly confront these tremendous obstacles is through a unified and concerted effort by the two most powerful political and economic entities currently in this world: America and Europe.

If Europe’s vaunted leaders do not heed the call of this righteous but unpopular president, then what step can be possibly taken as an alternative? As it is right now, the best option for the world is one which emphasizes this old adage: “If you lead, we will follow.”

Europe, follow America.