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Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 14:11:56 PST
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Subject: [R-G] Doubts over second phase of war on terror - Financial Times
The Financial Times (London) November 30, 2001
Doubts over second phase of war on terror
US told by allies that international coalition could crumble if
Pentagon
starts to focus on Iraq
By Judy Dempsey
Brussels - Europe's staunch public support for Washington's war against
terrorism is giving way to growing doubts over a possible second phase of
the military campaign as well as disappointment over the lack of
consultation beyond military issues.
While Europeans have accepted that President George W. Bush wanted full
command and control over the war in Afghanistan, they are not prepared to
remain silent if the campaign is extended into Iraq.
In the major capitals of Berlin, Paris and London, the administration has
been warned that the international coalition could crumble if the Pentagon
started focusing on Iraq. Gerhard Schroder, German chancellor, summed up
such sentiments this week when he warned the Bundestag (German parliament)
against discussion of new targets in the Middle East. "More could blow up in
our faces there than any of us realise," he said, specifically referring to
Iraq.
President Jacques Chirac of France reiterated the message yesterday during a
visit to London.
Responding to European pressure, Colin Powell, US secretary of state,
yesterday played down speculation that the US was planning to attack.
"This sort of suggestion out of the media right now, that something is on
the verge of happening, has no particular underpinning substance to it," he
said.
Diplomats say before endorsing any attack on Iraq, the Europeans would first
insist on watertight evidence to show whether the country was in any way
implicated in the September 11 attacks on the US.
The Europeans have other gripes, particularly over the lack of consultation
on civilian issues where they had expected a much more multilateral approach
from Washington. Intelligence and interior ministry officials complained of
what they said was a "one-way flow" of intelligence information.
Another complaint by the Europeans is the way the administration plans to
use military courts to try suspect terrorists - but not Americans. At the
moment, EU countries do not extradite suspects to the US unless they receive
assurances they will not be subject to the death penalty. The introduction
of the military tribunals will, said diplomats, do little to foster
co-operation.
The European disappointment with Washington's lack of consultation was
expressed in a letter sent yesterday on behalf of the 15 member states by
Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister of Belgium, holder of the rotating
presidency, and Romano Prodi, European Commission president.
It was a reply to a curt letter sent to both leaders by the Bush
administration on October 15 which was accompanied by a list of 47
"proposals for US-EU counter-terrorism co-operation. It was, said a senior
EU official, "an arbitrary set of demands".
The EU letter was also curt, running to just five short paragraphs. But it
got its point across.
"It is clearly important that we remain in close contact. We look forward to
strengthening this mutual co-operation in the coming months," it said.
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