Europeans Vindicated But Fearful About Iraq

[True_Blue]

LONDON -- For European leaders who opposed the U.S.-led military campaign in Iraq, this is a moment of conflicting emotions: They feel a sense of vindication and yet, as violence escalates there, they are deeply troubled by the prospect of American failure.

Many fear that a U.S. humiliation in Iraq could propel the United States back into a post-Vietnam War shell of quasi-isolationism, emboldening terrorists and dictators around the world, political leaders and analysts in Berlin, Brussels, London and Paris said.

There is widespread agreement about what went wrong -- that the United States, backed by a handful of allies such as Britain, rushed into war without international consensus and without proper planning about how to govern and rebuild the country once the opening round of conflict ended.

But Europeans are much less certain about where to go from here. Virtually all endorse turning over political power to Iraqis as soon as possible. Many would like to see the United Nations take a more active role. But no one knows how to deal with the immediate security crisis. Most European leaders find themselves on the sidelines, unwilling to earmark funds or troops to a foundering cause they did not sign up for in the first place.

more....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46196-2003Nov15.html

[Eloriel]

1. I'm sorry.

Maybe I'm missing something. I could really dig a little U.S. isolationism.

However, I guess the Europeans haven't discovered PNAC, eh? That's my fear: we pull out of Iraq sufficiently and go off on another merry adventure, as promised. IMO that's what they should be worried about too.

Eloriel

[ThorsteinVeblen]

3. The War on Terror is Real

The international community knows it is real. The international community is fighting the War on Terror with the US.

France has been our greatest ally so far in the War on Terror.

The Iraq War is a distraction from the War on Terror. Bush has set the fight back in innumerable ways by ignoring Afghanistan, going into Iraq and isolating us from the rest of the world. If we can get him out in 2004, then the rest of the world will again willingly come to our aid.

[Paschall]

6. The "War on Terror" is a US public relations gimmick

Europe has been effectively combating international terror for decades. And didn't call it a war.

It would be more accurate to say that the United States is now--sort of--Europe's or France's best ally in this combat (because the US has still failed to close all tax haven, money laundering loopholes in US legislation).

For more details see this thread: National Journal: France Was Right.

Regardless, Thorstein, I'm pleased to see that your pre-invasion position on Europe seems to have warmed considerably. Congratulations!

[oasis]

5. It is my belief that Europe, Russia and China are well aware of PNAC

which is why they opposed the Iraq invasion to begin with.

[glarius]

2. That's the dilemma....We feel it here in Canada too...We feel for the

American soldiers who are dying and being maimed but do not want our own young people to take their place as targets...We have a large contingent in Afghanistan, which we did support going to war against, but like most of the rest of the world we were against attacking Iraq....What the answer for Iraq is, I don't know....It's really very sad....

[kskiska]

4. They just want him gone

and are even beginning to take steps to make it happen. So many problems could be solved with a new, rational thinking president.

[Malva Zebrina]

7. , "war on terror" is sloganeering --

It is the predictable Bush "pattern"-

The coveting and then the stealing by lies and bully attacks, using the incredible wealth of the US, and enormous military resources to do so--adding $$$ in the plus column on the scorecards of his buddies and himself and getting out before anything can be added to the minus column --no exit stragetegy, you say?

Never was one--and who really cares? Bush? I think not.Bloggers and pundits are wasting their time in deep analysis, by giving too much credit to the purposes and integrity of the Bush minions--they are not in disarray at all-have no purpose but material gain and power for themself and integrity is a word that only little, plain honest people are concerned with-they simply are barbaric bullies who do not give a shit-they ride roughshod over anyone in their path and are confident they will get away with it. They are the clever, successful criminals the next generation of Bushs will follow. The Dick Cheney Brigade of Bullies. Naturally, whoever does succeed at straightening out their mess after they have sold the company, will be said to be using Bush's strategey--that is the next predictable pattern we can see and the next big lie.

Does anybody even mention anymore that he, as well as Rice and Powell, lied to the world in order to invade Iraq and has literally murdered thousands by that action? It is becoming lost in the sea of factoids that Bush churns up daily.

The president of the United States is a war criminal and needs to be brought to justice.