Check out this article from the LA Times. It's full of amusing observations like this one:

The European Union wants to strengthen the continent's role in world affairs — some say to complement, others suggest to contain, U.S. ambitions. Seventy-one percent of Europeans polled by the German Marshall Fund believe that the EU should become a superpower. However, such aspirations appear unlikely to become reality: 47% withdrew their support for the idea if it would mean higher military spending.

How do you suppose the European define "Superpower" if a strong military isn't part of the definition? Maybe they just intend to use the United States military (aka NATO) if they run into any trouble on their way to superpower status.

And how about this:

The notion that the U.S. is the "world's policeman" by default angers many and illuminates animosities from regions long suspicious of U.S. policy. Seventy-two percent of Mexicans surveyed by Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas rejected the idea that Washington should be the sole law-and-order power.

I bet a lot of Americans would agree with this sentiment. America shouldn't have to be the sole law-and-order power. Listening to Mexicans complain about this is like mom listening to the kids say "Who does mom think she is picking up our toys all the time and doing our laundry. Jeez." I'm sure we'd be happy to have the EU or the UN pulling their own weight. But see the first quote for just one reason why this isn't going to happen.

(via Allah)