An interesting thing happened over here in Europe today. Vice-President Joe Biden, on tour in the Balkans this week, went to Serbia today, country whose bombing he had wholeheartedly supported a decade ago, and tried to bury the proverbial hatchet with Serbian President Boris Tadic.
A little back-story to this: since the US-led campaign on Belgrade in 1999, the US, under the diplomacy of the Bush administration, moved towards recognition of the Serbian province of Kosovo, a controversial move vehemently opposed by Serbs of all political stripes, which like much of Bush diplomacy split the world into camps of for and against. As in Iraq, most are still against, and this is also somewhat true within the European Union, where notably Spain, Greece, Slovakia and Romania are still also refusing recognition.
Now, under the Bush administration, forcing Serbia to accept what more of the rest of the world would not accept- partition of Serbia- was par for the course. But, now that you've got change you believe in, Biden is curiously changing the tone in odd and presumptive ways:
US Vice-President Joe Biden has assured Serbia that the two countries can open a new page in relations, regardless of differences over Kosovo...
...Mr Biden said: "The United States does not, I emphasise, does not expect Serbia to recognise the independence of Kosovo.
"It is not a precondition for our relationship or our support for Serbia becoming part of the European Union," he said.
Change, no bellicosity, warm fuzzies....euh...wtf? support for Serbia becoming part of the European Union ? With all due respect Mr Vice President of the United States, the US is not in the European Union! By what standing do you feel you have the right to make such statements on our behalf?
Well, maybe not so much change after all. Same meddling, different faces.
Oh and, if you want in, take an application and wait in line. There are others in front of you. Like Turkey, who you've also been pushing, with no standing, for membership. Of course, Turkey has many advantages which the US cannot claim - respect for human rights, doesn't habour war criminals, no capital punishment, much closer, identity-wise, to European ideals, than the US, can actually play football (the real football) well.
Once in, you can do your talking. Until then, stick to what your administration is becoming most known for - dumping money on Wall Street.