William Pfaff: Bush policy risks terminal strain in NATO

[scarletwoman]

from the International Herald Tribune

Europe and the United States

PARIS The trans-Atlantic alliance is under what may be terminal strain. George Robertson says NATO will provide no further help to the United States in Iraq - meaning that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's principal European members refuse to let the alliance do so.

NATO might survive the present crisis, but only as a structure providing U.S. bases in ex-Communist Europe. The United States is going in one direction, and NATO's European Union members in another, a rival direction.

This is a reluctant choice by the Europeans, but their perception of Washington has in the last two years changed dramatically. The United States is now seen in Europe as a threat to Europe's independence. The American side does not understand this.

<snip>

The Europeans simply no longer agree with the United States. They don't agree about the terrorist threat. They don't think Osama bin Laden is a global menace. They don't take Washington's view of rogue states. They don't agree about pre-emptive war, clash of civilizations, the demonization of Islam, or Pentagon domination of U.S. foreign policy.

(much more...)

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A must-read, imho.

sw

[KC21304]

1. What an eye-opener.

What an arrogant SOB of an administration.

[whirlygigspin]

2. wake up call

Must read article.



Go Dean!

[Frances]

3. I think it's important that Europe

take steps to become as strong as possible. The other rising power is China, which does not have any democratic traditions.