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| Europe | |
| Germany Challenges U.S. on NATO Iraq Role | |
| 2004-02-07 | |
| Germany’s foreign minister on Saturday challenged a U.S. proposal to give the NATO alliance a role in Iraq peacekeeping, raising the prospect of new trans-Atlantic dispute. But he didn’t bludgeon a policeman this time so it’s okay. With U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld listening, Joschka Fischer’s warning at an annual defense conference recalled some of the sting of their sharp exchange a year ago in the buildup to the war that ousted Saddam Hussein. "The risk of failure and the potentially very serious, possibly fatal consequences for the alliance absolutely must be taken into consideration," Fischer told the gathering of leading security officials and experts from about 50 countries. You’re right. Perhaps you should stay in the ministry. Rumsfeld
Some people are never happy. While conceding little ground over the necessity for the war, Rumsfeld and Fischer emphasized that both camps now want to look to the future. "Joschka, why don’t you get your head out of your ass and look to the future?" "Umm ... hokay. Cheez, it’s bright out here!" Fischer called for Europe and the United States to join together in a broad effort to bring peace and stability to the Middle East. A major push to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, fight terrorism and promote economic development in the Middle East would help heal the trans-Atlantic rift, Fischer said. Back to the Paleos, knowing that if this again becomes the central issue, nothing else will ever get done. "Neither the United States nor Europe and the Middle East itself can tolerate the status quo in the Middle East any longer," Fischer told the audience, which included Rumsfeld. Which is why we should support the security fence. Rumsfeld expressed support for Fischer’s proposals, saying the NATO alliance could help Middle Eastern countries beef up their security forces and serve as a catalyst for economic and democratic change like in eastern Europe after the fall of communism. "Much like we’re doing in Iraq, Joschka." | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Again Rumsfeld shows us just whose brains are calcified in NATO. Rather than calling France and Germany Old Europe, let's consider those in Europe, regardless of nationality, who can work with us, and ignore the rest. A French Jean Monet would be great right about now. Sarkozy? It's funny that Fischer was supposed to be some passionate revolutionary radical thinker in his bloody youth, but look how predictable he's become through his defending the fantasy ideology of the nostalgic Commie apologist masses, just lapping for a fight with Regan's reincarnation, W; fully secure in the knowledge that no harm will befall them by doing so; the opposite would be true if he ever called out those of his persuasion to come to the fore with America, as Poland, Italy, have done; in fact the majority of NATO is fully on board with Bush. JF does NOT show balls by his criticisms. To do so, he would have to tread the same awkward way Bush and Rummy and Wolfy are; a group willing to finally take on the elephant in the room. Say this tomorrow George on Russert. One last thing. Rummy, as opposed to JF, is the stodgy/conventional one in private life, but a total maverick in wanting to revise how we connect politics/international relations/military dots. A 70-year old totally free thinker outclassing the supposed intellectual/politcal mainstays of static old-formula Europe and others of the apologetic international Left. When he leaves DOD, I want him to replace Trump on "The Apprentice" |
| Posted by: Michael 2004-2-7 8:24:11 PM |