Considering how assiduous Cheney et al. are in attending to appearances in their politics, they can't very well pretend to be insensitive to them on the other side of the Atlantic.

The whole description of the meal (an attempt at Davos to open a dialogue between the US and Iran) is worth a read and is so involved that it defies adequate excerpting.

However, I fi...

And Kappiy is right about the importance of appearances to the Euros. It's not so much that George Bush is an idiot, it's that he looks, sounds, and acts like an idiot.

Just curious, what's the "olive branch" you're referring to?

Rice could have gone to Davos (and could still go, for that matter) as Secretary of State since the forum started on Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Switzerland is only about a 6 1/2 hour flight from the US.

She was sworn in on Wednesday.

http://www.thepoliticalteen.net/archives/2005/01/vp_cheney_blast.php

The stupidity of Europeans getting worked up over Cheney's attire is a less important discussion than recognizing that they do, in fact, care about these perceptual matters. Most of Bush's deficit spending is made possible by central banks reserves in Europe and Asia. If these central banks start systematically dumping the dollar for alternative currencies, our economy will suffer significantly.

There are many reasons why it is in Europe's interest not to see that happen, but, nonetheless, markets are fickle and subject to caprice. A wise diplomatic strategy for Bush would be to look seriously at European public & governmental sentiment and attempt to build up trust. The politics of symbolism matters in these endeavors.

Who makes up these rules, anyway?

A well-timed speech at Davos, could have been a useful attempt at breaking the dollar's slide. This, however, would have required some persuasive diplomatic skills--something Bush has not demonstrated with regard to many European leaders.

It is also weird that Cheney wouldn't attend Davos--the administration sending Cabinet powerhouse Elaine Chao instead.

The administration needs to start taking European diplomacy more seriously--since the devaluation of the dollar overseen by Bush could continue to plummet. Yu Yongding's statements yesterday were not reassuring. A selloff of the dollar in favor of the Euro by China would severely hamper our economy, sending the dollar into an Argentian-like spiral.

Symbolic things--like dressing appropriately for a memorial ceremony--can be useful in building confidence between allies.

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