[USMA:20221] Global America

[kilopascal]

2002-05-26   An interesting Associated Press article appeared in today's Cleveland Plain dealer:   Normandy awaits Bush with some mixed feelings   Mort Rosenblum Associated Press   Lisieaux, France - Didier Douailen, who sells space-age phones in this ancient Normandy town, has no qualms about a globalized world with an American accent.  But, he doesn't know what to make of George W. Bush.   President Bush is to arrive in France today and is to spend Memorial Day on the beaches where US troops landed 58 years ago.  To this day, the occassional shop window in Lisieaux still reads "Welcome to our Liberators."   "I'd like to think well of Bush, but we just don't know what to expect from him, or what he will do next," Douailen said, reflecting a wide held attitude, not only in Normandy but across France.   He fears that Bush's inexperience in foreign affairs may lead to serious conflict, and his America-first economic policies endanger world trade.  "Bush is 200 % protectionist, that's for sure," he said.   For many in Normandy, the fact that Bush emerged as the US leader is reason enough to support him.   ....................     There is more, but it just emphasises the point expressed above.  The point being that the global world economy will be controlled by the US, at least that is what many believe.  If this is the case, then it will be a long hard battle for SI.  The US will use its power and influence to assure a spot for FFU in the metric world.  There will be no attempts to change America's way of measuring to accomodate the world.  The world must accomodate the US.  Maporama is being realistic when it defaults its European site to US units.  Its supporters know that is what America wants.  And what America wants is what America gets.   John