America and Europe after 9/11: The Great Divide

Abstract

Nothing explains the long-term impact of 9/11 on United States-European relations better than two headlines from the French daily newspaper Le Monde. “We Are All Americans,” was the headline in the newspaper the day after 9/11. “In this tragic moment, when words seem so inadequate to express the shock people feel, the first thing that comes to mind is this: We are all Americans,” wrote Jean-Marie Colombani, reflecting the massive European outpouring of sympathy and support for America. But, just a few months later, on March 9, 2004, Colombani wrote an editorial for the Wall Street Journal that was headlined: “Are We Still Americans?” This time, he wasn’t so sure.