Erhard Haubold

Last week was a bad one for the Europeans, that famous “American poodle” in London included. Because President Bush by endorsing the Scharon “peace plan” for Gaza and the West Bank demonstrated once again, that it is American might that ultimately counts, that Europeans´ concerns and policy alternatives for their immediate neighbourhood are considered pretty irrelevant in Washington, particularly in an election year. Even Britain’s Tony Blair had to realise that his support for Bush’s Iraq war and the “special relationship” do not amount to much in American eyes: there is a permanent transatlantic imbalance ever since Washington decides major foreign policy questions without consulting its European allies.

Behind that is a change in strategic paradigm by the Bush administration: it does not believe in the traditional instruments of international diplomacy. Condoleeza Rice very early called them an “illusion.” Consequently, Washington refuses to recognise, among others, the Kyoto Treaty and the International Court of Justice. Before the Iraq war, it told “old Europe” exactly 99 times that “you are either with us or with the terrorists.” Instead of relying on the time proven network of international intervention under UN mandate, it postulated a new security doctrine with the pre-emptive war at its core. Instead of “weak” European allies, US should seek the support of countries like India, Russia and China to strengthen the “coalition of the willing” in Iraq.

That way, US has lost many a friend in Europe. More than half of the British population name the US as the biggest danger in the world today. Even “willing” partners in the Iraq war realise that they have almost no influence in the Bush administration. Most Europeans were against the campaign in Iraq, most would gladly see Bush loose the November elections.

But they look aghast at the American unwillingness to learn from recent history (Vietnam), the way the US has abandoned the “American Mission” (to promote democratic ideals all over the world), its violation of international law (Guantanomo) and the brutal way its soldiers behave in Iraq. Europeans find it hard to believe that the US with all its intellectual strength was so ill-prepared for the post-war situation in Iraq. They find it hard to endure the arrogance of defence secretary Rumsfeld who pointedly refused to read even one of 2200 pages of advice experts of the State Department had prepared for him before his soldiers marched into Baghdad. No one in his right mind wishes an American defeat in the Middle East. European security hinges on a stable situation there. But the western protectorates the US started in Afghanistan and Iraq will have to last many years and be paid for by the international community. The Atlantic Alliance and NATO have suffered because of the US policy of going it alone.

Europe is moving closing together, united in disgust at the hyper power across the Atlantic. Many Europeans cannot understand that an administration in Washington that is responsible for the death of more than 10.000 Iraqi civilians and almost 900 American GIs is not simply swept out of office. On May 1, the EU will be joined by ten new members. With a total of 25 nations it will be an economic powerhouse next to the US. But with an abysmally small political clout. Many Europeans are quietly furious that they always have to pick the pieces of American adventures. Haubold, a freelancer, writes for THT from Berlin