Actually the average American doesn't know Belgium exists. Of course a well-educated, geographically aware American who's been to Europe will be vaguely aware that Belgium is some small country with beer that likely as not still has some ridiculous king.

Which all makes me wonder why this minor politician -- who certainly not one American in 100,000 would recognize -- thinks any American would waste time explaining our national secrets to him. We have important work to do.

@ G-Dub

Karel De Gucht is not strictly speaking "a eurocrat".  He is a 'national' politician. 

But you are probably right that he doesn't know much about "democracy". He probably confuses that with - or reduces that to - getting the most votes in the next Belgian federal elections (but under a system of 'regulated political speech').

The time that average Americans considered Belgium "an ally" is long gone.  At least not a 'real' ally.  I think they consider Belgium today more like a nuisance or an ungrateful 'teenager' (who wil have to learn - in the case of Belgium 'RElearn' - life's lessons the 'hard way').

 But, in the cynical and hypocritical world of geopolitics and international diplomacy, words often do not mean what they seem to mean. Therefore, the superficial 'allies' will continue to cooperate where their short-term interests intersect. But, long-term 'investments' will only be undertaken with the real allies, not the superficial ones.    

Guys, I am belgian. De Gucht thinks democracy means he has the right to dictate anyone else in the world. If you're the only one asking questions in the council, that already should ring a bell shouldn't it?

oh and Eddy Burke, SOME belgians do not understand as in all the lefties don't! In fact, despite terrorism amongst many arab delinquents, they scream for more... Those people should be stumped into prisons.

I find it unacceptable that political parties are banned by courts, that the freedom of speech is destroyed by legislative work and that a government launches specific actions to damage the credibility of a political party using police raids and additional legislation to dry up their finances.

Could this be the next qoute we'll get from Karel de Gucht? I doubt so because the same is happening in Belgium.

What the hell would a eurocrat from Belgium know about democracy?

"not acceptable in a democracy"? Mmmh, I did not know that the allies amongst themselves constituted a nation or organization that worked on the basis of democratic principles?
Again, Belgians fail to understand the idea that a nation state has the moral obligation to act in the best interest of its OWN citizens, which sometimes implies risking to offend the sensitivity of the so-called "allies".
I can only imagine how quickly the "secret" gaols would have become public knowledge if the US would have informed their Belgian "allies"...
Ed