On Iraq, it's Time to Call Europe

[shdejong]

"For the first time since 2003, a consensus is emerging in the EU on the need to do more for Iraq," write Daniel Korski and Richard Gowan of the European Council on Foreign Relations and add: "There is a risk that the United States will not take advantage of this opportunity." They describe Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Brussels in April as a catalyst for this changing European attitude: "Even in those countries that most virulently opposed the war, the mood is changing." French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has repeatedly stated his desire to do more in Iraq. He also flew into Nasiriya last weekend, soon after the airbase had come under attack.

Korski and Gowan conclude: Getting from private to public statements is a step forward. Shifting from rhetoric to real engagement in Iraq will be an even bigger one.

They also have an interesting suggestion for the US presidential candidates.

 

[Scott Free]

I wonder if they mean the only thing that would help Iraq: sanctions against the USA?

 

[MikeyDB]

I think it's long past time somone pulled the plug on "Europe"! "Europe" has stood by while the Middle East (Israeli Palestinian) conflict has raged. It stood by while the United States usurped the authority of the United Nations and invaded Iraq. A history of war doesn't it seems prepare a people to work with and participate-in the world as a whole. I realize as well that like Americans and Canadians, Europeans aren't particularly interested in what's happenning globally until some particular situation can't be ignored any longer....

The Mercantile Mind of the west has castrated principle across North America so it would be unrealistic to expect anything different from European nations....

 

[jimmoyer]

MikeyDB, it is a great shame if we don't give Iraq a chance, especially after we royally screwed it up, making it even WORSER.

For all those who were right not to support that war, would it not be consistent to prove how much you care about Iraq by supporting any measure to improve their life over there ?

Those who hated this pre-emptive war of choice are inconsistent if they encourage immediate withdrawal ?

Anyway, I was thoroughly wrong about this whole thing from the start.

 

[einmensch]

MikeyDB
Regarding Palestine <->Israel and the EU---Germany's status is 1945
"UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" and HAS BEEN OCCUPIED BY USA MILITARY SINCE. GERMANY DOES NOT HAVE A CONSTITUTION. Holocaust, 6 million and NAZI permeates North American media continuously repeatedly daily --- the previous number was a 140,000 man/womanforce which was reduced to 70,000 to provide for Iraq. Don't expect Germany to say anything against the Israel. Programming German youth for 60 years produces one reply """The Holocaust is FACT and does is not to be questioned"""Austria--USA sanctioned were placed on Austria because the racist Chancellor did not want to accept Turks as refugees saying that they crossed a nuber of countries in which they should have asked for asylum-NAZI and Holocaust popped up. Just as it did with Governor Zwarzenegger
Poland >in not in EU< THEY HAD Auschwitz-they are silenced--Dr. Irving? Ah yes! How many Germans, Austrians are in prison for Questioning--Canada also has laws!
Nice to put it on the EU. Spain, France etc??
Canada is best buddies with Israel. If Israel does it, Canada smiles. Canada even produced MUSLIM terrorists at a cost of over $4.4million-court DUH!?

 

[Scott Free]

For all those who were right not to support that war, would it not be consistent to prove how much you care about Iraq by supporting any measure to improve their life over there ?

Those who hated this pre-emptive war of choice are inconsistent if they encourage immediate withdrawal ?

Absolutely not! The first thing required to help Iraq is a full and immediate withdrawal of imperial forces. They were not sincere when they went in and they are not now sincere when they want to stay.

Iraqi's can only sort the mess out, made by the imperialists, if they are free to do so. Iraq right now is a slave state to the USA. Iraq is fully occupied, dominated and controlled.

"The Americans are learning the tricks of the Great Game quicker than the British, who invented it." - The Economist, May 24 2008

It seems the Americans have forgotten the lesson they leaned from the Great Game: that freedom is more important than pleasing masters and is the prerequisite for self determination.