Dealing with EU Perceptions of a post-Iraq U.S.

Interpreting European public opinion also requires the recognition that Europeans and Americans often have opposite perceptions of the same situation and different spontaneous reactions to it. While Europeans continue to see the United States as part of the world, the United States tends to see itself as distinct. The renewal of the Transatlantic agenda should not only include efforts to deal with issues of immediate interest, but also address questions raised by public opinions on both sides of the ocean with the goal of avoiding unnecessary divergence and preparing for the future.