THE BELGIANS DIDN'T EVEN COME UP WITH THE CUCKOO CLOCK:

'Europe has shown it wants to be a supersize Switzerland': The mood in Brussels is bleak as experts agree politicking has triumphed over ambition in the appointment of two new leaders (Ian Traynor, 11/21/09, The Guardian)

Europe's hopes of translating its economic power into global political clout have suffered a severe setback as a result of the timid choices on new leadership made this week, analysts, officials, and diplomats conceded on Friday. [...]

Thursday's EU summit in Brussels, at which leaders made the two appointments, had been preceded by weeks of argument and contest for the highly coveted posts. The ferocious manoeuvring meant there was no consensus, portending a lengthy and acrimonious summit.

But in the end, it appeared EU leaders did not have the stomach for the fight. The decisions were taken by consensus in record quick time by agreement on obscure figures, neither of whom have the standing or experience to threaten EU national leaders or the European commission chief, Jose Manuel Barroso.

The main criticism was the failure to aim high, instead settling for two leaders seen by many as decent, respectable mediocrities.

A dying continent can hardly afford bold leaders.

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Posted by Orrin Judd at November 20, 2009 9:50 PM