It just occurs to me that when the Eurorats call us "cowboys," they intend it as an insult, but we take it as a true compliment (in fact, if not in intent).

I doubt that they're very pleased to be called weasels, though.

The term "Cowboy" refers basically to anyone who lives in the Western states. Therefore, when Euro-elites, New England liberals, and California/Portland/Seattle coastal whackos sling the term around, they are INSULTING every cowgirl and cowboy, ranchhand, truck driver, leather-worker, road-builder, guitar-maker, pawn-shop owner, etc. from Los Angeles to Billings. So much for "Cultural Sensitivity".
Without analyzing the ethnocentrism inherent in the slur (something best left to some U.N. Commission), in less than one day, Schroeder has undone two decades of public relations work by Daimler-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen, French wine distributors (frankly, I can't think of anything I use today that is manufactured by France), etc.
France and Germany view us as their main economic and social competitor (so of course they'd love to saddle our economy with Kyoto) and they fear our model of limited government will topple their socialist systems if left unchecked. Both fear their enormous, unassimilated and restless Muslim immigrant communities. Both abetted Iraq in violating the '91 U.N. disarmament agreements and fear that the evidence of this will come to light. In short their talk of Cowboy Unilateralism is just a shallow attempt to tie us down with their opinions so they can have their way with us and the truth.
Chilean wines are calling! The Lexus rivals those pricey German cars. Skiing in Utah, anyone?

"The term "Cowboy" refers basically to anyone who lives in the Western states."

The original "Cowboy" originated from the Mexican "Vaquero" and their knowledge of ranching was transferred to the original Anglo settlers of the Texas/New Mexico region.

Being from Mesquite, TX and currently living in Forney, TX I think I'm qualified in describing exactly what is a Cowboy. It is simply defined by anyone that has in their position a belt buckle of 4 inches in diameter or greater. Preferably one that depicts the imagery of a steer/horse, a pickup/tractor/semi/bus, or an armadillo. Owning a pair of boots does not make you cowboy.

**Insert obligatory 'You might be a red-neck' joke here**

Note: I do not and never intend to own any such item of apparel and therefore do not consider myself to be a "Cowboy" (the one I had when I was 6 doesn't count).

I might have been born & raised east of the Mississippi, but I consider myself to be a 'cowboy'. Not the traditional kind, but one nonetheless. Born in the wrong century I guess.

When Gen. Washington and other Revolutionary War commanders sent foragers out to gather up livestock and supplies for the Continental Army (so I heard once upon a time), they -- being youthful men and often in possession of cattle as they returned to camp -- were known as "cow boys."

Vaquero does mean something on the order of cowhand, and is the source of the Western slang word "buckaroo."

I am from New Yawk and I take cowboy as a compliment. Ideally, they embody a lot that is great about America and a lot of what made America great. (see Zane Grey)
As to 'weasel', I think for the French it's a step up from "cheese eating surrender monkey".
But that's just my opinion.

So does this mean cowboy has now officially replaced Yankee as slang for American? Yankee was the name of a pirate who sailed the east coast of the U.S.
People in the southern states used the name to refer to northern merchants as thieves, hens the term Yankee trader. Northern merchants took it as a complement on their trading abilities and proudly became Yankee?s.

I think they needed to translate "Weasel" for France And Germany. It probably is a 2 page paragraph in French or a 5 line work in German. Does anyone have an adequate translation of weasel in this connotation in French or German? (i.e. not just "small furry mammal")

Ambrose Bierce, in "The Devil's Dictionary", defined yankee thusly:
In Europe, any American. In the North any New Englander. In the South this word does not exist (see damnyank).

In Europe "Cowboy" probably is an insult, he's one of those peasants who actually works, after all. It must be galling for them to insult us and have us take the word as a compliment. That would take all the fun out of sneering.

I can see the objection to being called "weasels" (in fact I think we should apologize for that one, to the weasels) but I don't understand the same objection to being referred to as "old Europe" many of these elitist Eurotrash snobs never tire of pointing out how much older (and therefore, they argue wiser) than us upstart Americans, who have barely passed 200.

That said, I don't care if they're insulted by us, or insulting us, I don't care what they say anymore. I just finished the first season Babylon5 DVD's what was said about Narn and Centauri there applies to the Frogs and Krauts here "they are a dying race, we should let them pass"