Well I, who hardly know who Mr Cope is, think he's probably been misrepresented.

If you look in the text it's clear he must have preceded his remarks AND followed them on but hasn't been quoted in each case. And maybe the WASPS were the Bushes (different now isn't it Peter?). There are no European leaders that are WASPS. And maybe, not sure, the Germanic thing was what he thought Bush thought, not him?

I dunno. I do think the reporter was in a rush and didn't stop to take his coat off so made sweeping statements along pre-conceived lines. Maybe he just didn't like TMA for some reason.