Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is in Madrid this week attending an anti-terrorism work group, and had a few things to say about the United States’ image in Europe and what needs to be done about it.

He blamed the country’s deteriorating image on misunderstanding in Europe about what the U.S. is doing to fight terrorism.

“Part of the misunderstanding is the fault of the United States in the sense that we need to be out there more, talking about what we are doing and why,” he said.

Gonzales is talking about the U.S.’s “anti-terrorism actions” in Iraq and in other parts of the world, and how the country’s respect for rule of law is often questioned.

“The notion that the United States does not fully support the rule of law is one I find very disappointing,” Gonzales told reporters, especially given that President Bush “believes the Unites States is the leader, is a beacon of hope in the world and it’s important that our actions should reflect a total commitment to the rule of law.”

What I find disappointing is that this man is no more than a puppet for W and is spreading the same old line of “you just don’t understand us” in Europe, a place where people understand exactly what we are doing. That’s why they hate us. Saying “we know you hate us, and this is why…” isn’t going to help matters but hey, who needs allies, right?

Via / The Washington Post