NYC Letter: Joe On The Job IV

Day 68 of CHOPE

BIDEN CONSIDERA A ESPAÑA
UNO DE SUS «SOCIOS MÁS FUERTES»
[BIDEN CONSIDERS SPAIN
ONE OF HIS "STRONGER PARTNERS"]

VINA DEL MAR, Chile 28 marzo 2009 (ABC.es) - El jefe del Ejecutivo español, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, ha dado hoy por cerrada la polémica sobre el anuncio de la retirada de las tropas españolas de Kosovo tras reunirse con el vicepresidente de EE.UU., Joseph Biden, quien ha asegurado que España es uno de sus "socios más fuertes".

Asímismo, Biden ha remarcado, en la Cumbre de Líderes Progresistas que se celebra en Chile, la «falta de comunicación» entre España y EE.UU. por la retirada de las tropas de Kosovo, aunque «no va a ser impedimento» para las relaciones entre ambos países. A su vez ha agradecido al presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, los «esfuerzos» españoles en Afganistán y en Irak.

[The Spanish Chief Executive, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, today made to end the controversy over the announcement of the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Kosovo after meeting with the vice-president of the United States, Joseph Biden, who maintained that Spain is one of his "stronger partners".

Biden, attending the Progressive Governance Conference held in Chile, also observed the "lack of communication" between Spain and the United States with the troop withdrawal from Kosovo, although "it is not going to be an impediment" to relations between the two countries. He as well thanked the president of the Government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, for the "Spanish efforts" in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Unlike Joe Biden who supported the war in Iraq then opposed it and opposed the surge but took credit for its success, Sr. Zapatero has categorically opposed the war.

Sr. Zapatero's help in Iraq consists of:

• Pulling all Spanish troops out of Iraq upon taking office;

• "Pleading" that all coalition members do likewise;

• Shoring up the terrorist insurgency;

• Refusing to contribute personnel or share the costs of NATO's Iraq security training mission; and

• Unconditionally interdicting the deployment of Spanish troops in Iraq, with or without a UN mandate or as part of a NATO force.

Oh yeah, thanks, Zappy. American foreign policy is finally in step with Spain. Oh, and France, too. [Pause.] This is the sort of American followship that our hold-your-coat allies could only dream of under Mr. Bush.

[Hat tips: Barcepundit & Hot Air]

CHOPE.

Cluelessness + Unctuosity = Foreign policy expertise (and here).