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| Europe |
| Powell Criticizes Some European Allies on Iraq |
| 2004-12-09 |
| In a fresh sign of lingering tensions over the Iraq war, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Thursday rapped European allies who declined to assist a NATO-led Iraq training mission as "hurting the credibility and cohesion" of the military alliance. A half dozen NATO members have flatly refused to allow officers assigned to NATO bases to participate in the training operation -- a move that U.S. officials said was unprecedented. Even as the 26-country alliance decided Thursday to expand the small operation in Iraq from 60 to 300 people, officials from the recalcitrant nations -- which include France, Germany and Spain -- held firm. "We will send no troops to Iraq," said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. He said this position has been clear since the training force was established last June. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told reporters that "given the current security situation, we think it is more efficient and useful if training takes place outside of Iraq." The transatlantic rift emerged as U.S. officials have signaled a new approach in their dealings with Europe. The White House announced Thursday that Bush will visit NATO and meet with European leaders on Feb. 22, in what Powell called an effort to "mend these breaches." NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Poland, Hungary and the Netherlands had agreed to send more staff for the mission, which is located inside the heavily fortified area in Baghdad known as the Green Zone. NATO also plans to set up a military academy outside Baghdad, but has received no commitments of staff yet. But Germany provides a disproportionate share of the international command staff, so its directive to German NATO officers could hamper the operation. Joining Germany, France and Spain in refusing to provide staff for the training operation were Greece, Belgium and Luxembourg. The usual suspects. Old Europe. snip |
| Posted by:Mrs. Davis |
| #1 Riddle me this: When is an "ally" no longer an ally? When is an "alliance" no longer an alliance? |
| Posted by: Capt America 2004-12-09 11:27:02 PM |