Bush's ruins

US President George W. Bush's bequest to his successor is a vast expanse of ruins, writes De Volkskrant newspaper, commenting that this will have grave international consequences: "Bush angered almost the entire world with the arrogant unilateralism of his first term in office. And that will have consequences for Europe, whose inner divisions make it unable to offer an alternative. And with its unchecked, irresponsible lifestyle America has become financially dependent on China, which is increasingly spreading its influence into Africa and Asia. As long as American policy shies away from making clear to voters that consumerism has its limits, this financial dependency will grow. And it is a total illusion to think that this dependence will not have political consequences, because Beijing will use it as leverage when the time comes."

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