U.S.-European Cooperation

Obama’s address was serious, powerful, realistic, and moving. It is very hard to remember a speaker since John F. Kennedy who could strike all those notes at once.

There is not one American who does not understand that we face some very difficult times. There is not one American who does not wish this new, relatively untested but disciplined leader all the luck in the world. In an interesting poll just before the inauguration, 58% of voters who supported McCain said they were optimistic that Obama would be able to meet the challenges ahead.

New patterns of cooperation will be required all around the world, and especially between the US and Europe. America is in a serious, somewhat humble mood. This is a moment of extraordinary opportunity, if we are able to grasp it.

(For more information on President Obama´s plan for reducing American CO2 emissions and global warming, as well as on the Environmental Defense Fund of New York City, click here www.edf.org )