‘Dubya’ fails to allay Union foreign policy gurus’ fears

Date: 16/11/00

Assurances have been given privately that George W. Bush's weak grasp of foreign policy questions is nothing to worry about in Europe, even if 'Dubya' is the one who wins the key to the White House door once all the votes have been recounted.

After all, hasn't he sensibly surrounded himself with a supreme team of advisors, many of whom know what they are talking about? EU policy gurus are not convinced, having read an interview on the policy.com website with Condoleeza Rice, the woman widely expected to be Bush's National Security Advisor.

In a 3,500-word piece on issues ranging from the Balkans to Russia and the Horn of Africa, Condoleeza makes not one single mention of Europe or the European Union - which says a lot about either the US or the EU, or possibly both.