Not since Woodrow Wilson was hailed by tumultuous crowds as he appeared at the Versailles peace conference has an American leader been given such a warm welcome in Europe as greeted Barrack Obama, and simultaneously achieved so little of practical benefit. The Jazz Age was also an age of celebrity and the parties and confetti and cheers for Wilson in 1919--as for Obama ninety years later-- were reported everywhere. They were stunning, thrilling and transient.
The way for an American head of state to translate public adulation into approval from the leaders of the Old World, of course, is to capitulate to their demands and to expect nothing in return. Obama played that role beautifully and the American public was led to believe it was a huge triumph. Slowly, the truth is sinking in, however.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/5121615/President-Barack-Obama-is-going-home-with-non-nein-and-no-ringing-in-his-ears.html
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