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February 21, 2005
Pfaff's Opinion on 'Why Bush will fail in Europe'
William Pfaff, the Paris-based columnist who was once a staple in the Chicago Tribune, one of my hometown newspapers, told London Observer readers in a February 20, 2005 column Why Bush Will Fail in Europe. He asserted that "President George W. Bush arrives in Europe this week in the belief that the European Nato allies can be persuaded to 'turn away from the disagreements of the past' and open 'a new chapter' in transatlantic relations, as Condoleezza Rice, on her European trip, advised them to do. He is likely to go home without the concessions he wants." Mr. Pfaff added:
He wants more help from the Europeans in Iraq, Afghanistan, and probably in other places yet to be announced; European backing for American policy on Iran (and Syria and Israel/Palestine); and no European arms sales to China. Those are Washington's priorities. There is a further list of secondary issues, commercial as well as political.Mr. Pfaff predicted:
His trip will fail because he and his administration do not understand what really divides most continental European governments from the United States today. At the same time, Europeans are mostly unwilling to confront these issues, because of the trouble with Washington they imply. But, unacknowledged or not, they count.While European leaders have been cordial to Mr. Bush, thus far, his speeches are unlikely to produce any substantive changes in posture on either side. The differences are too great, and there is an imbalance of global power between the U.S. and Europe. In addition, France and Germany are unlikely to play a submissive role in the mold of England under Prime Minister Tony Blair. We saw them resist that role in the lead-up to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, which was launched in March 2003 in complete disregard to international public opinion. Sure, there will be customary announcements of agreements to work together on Iraq and other issues. However, I suspect it's mostly rhetoric. Such announcements are like aid pledges during disasters. If the aid doesn't come through, and often it doesn't, the promises were empty gestures designed to deflect criticims. I'll be surprised if this visit produces any diplomatic victories.
Posted by Munir Umrani at February 21, 2005 03:55 PM
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