Some additional hints from Spiegel Online about the content of Obama's speech:
SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that he wants to outline a new foreign policy that consults partners more, but also makes clear demands on Europe. [...]
"Obama wants to signal to the Europeans that he will reach out much more to the trans-Atlantic partners than George W. Bush did. You will hear the words 'I can listen' frequently in his speech," said the advisor.
When asked about the potential for a European tour to backfire among American voters, the advisor answered:
"We are aware of that risk," said the advisor. "A voter in North Dakota doesn't care much for the trans-Atlantic agenda. He would rather ask: What is Obama planning to do for me?" [...]
And he won't shy away from some "tough love" in his speech, said the advisor, noting that he would spell out clearly that Europe needs to assume more international responsibility, especially in Afghanistan, and perhaps in Iraq as well.
The German news service Deutsche Welle notes that Obama praised Germany during a recent June energy speech:
"Germany, a country as cloudy as the Pacific Northwest, is now a world leader in the solar power industry and the quarter million new jobs it has created. In less than eight years, before we'd ever see a drop of oil from offshore drilling, they have doubled their renewable energy output. And they did it by using technology that, in some cases, was paid for by the American people through our own Research and Development tax credits. The difference is, their government harnessed that technology by providing the necessary investments and incentives to jumpstart a renewable energy industry. Washington hasn't done that."
