US deserves praise

No, the Americans can't please everyone - especially not the Europeans, who, from time to time, quite happily lay into their "big brother" across the Atlantic, mainly about the US wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. Although the US army might win every battle there, in the end they lose the wars. After the withdrawal, Washington tends to leave countries worse off than before the invasion. But that isn't the only reason why anti-Americanism is on the rise in Europe. In Germany there's something else: Many are still outraged that the NSA listened in on Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone calls and has so far has failed to apologize for this breach of trust.

Anti-Americanism is in

This does not help negotiations on the TTIP free trade agreement, where talks continue to proceed slowly. Many Europeans oppose closer trade relations with the US for several reasons, including chlorinated chicken or genetically modified corn cobs. But, even if an agreement were to be reached, no one would be forced to buy things they don't want in the EU. But the principle of distrusting the US is currently in vogue. During the TTIP discussion, the benefits, such as stronger national economic growth or uniform standards in industry, are left to fade into the background.

In short, transatlantic relations have not been this bad since Ronald Reagan's time. Who would have thought that a few years ago, when the European favorite Barack Obama moved into the White House. The president has now taken up the fight against Ebola, pledging to send about 4,000 military personnel to West Africa by the end of November to reinforce infrastructure and limit the spread of the disease. Seventeen Ebola treatment centers are to be set up in Liberia, and infected medical staff will be treated in a field hospital set up by the US at Monrovia airport.

Washington will also send laboratory staff, which means that the results of Ebola tests will be available within hours and Americans will train thousands of volunteers to treat the sick.

There are already critics in Europe complaining of the militarization of medical and humanitarian aid, but the aid organization Doctors without Borders itself has called for military intervention. The Ebola outbreak threatens everything in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone: the already weak medical infrastructure, public security and administration, and the economy.

Even Cuba welcomes the US intervention

So, instead of criticizing Washington, we should support the US administration. Nothing binds better than good work that you do together. The fight against Ebola is even bringing together the US and Cuba, whose government sent hundreds of doctors and care workers to West Africa at the start of October, drawing praise from US Secretary of State John Kerry. The Cubans responded by welcoming the US military's mission. The two sides have now pledged to cooperate in Liberia. If even the Cubans can lay aside their traditional anti-Americanism for a while, then the Europeans should be able to do the same.