“Sidetracked by Iraq”?

I’m wondering how all of the families of the US service people that have died in Iraq, are going to feel when they hear that Iraq “sidetracked” us from some big love in with Europe?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_obama

“Welcomed with thunderous cheers, President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to repair damaged relations with Europe, saying the world came together following the 2001 terrorist attacks but then "we got sidetracked by Iraq."

There’s more that I’d like to address in this speech, but time is at a premium today. But I can't let this one go. I love this line of his:

"In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world," Obama said.

We’ve let Europe take the lead with Iran these past few years, and look at where it’s gotten us. Nowhere. Europe doesn’t lead. Europe wants our money, and then wants us to get the fuck out of the way. The reason why Europe (and that’s France and Germany, mainly), weren’t happy with us, is that they were circumventing the UN oil for food program in Iraq, racking up billions and billions in ill-gotten gains, and they were pissed when we cut that off.

In a month, Obama’s administration has told the Brits that they are no better than anyone else, he’s bow (bowed low, mind you) to the Saudi’s, and now he’s telling Europe he wants us to work with them to solve the world’s problems.

This must be nuance in action.