BERLIN | How is Europe reacting to the U.S. exit from Iraq?It doesn’t care. That’s America’s problem.The Germans don’t care. The French don’t care. The Dutch don’t care. Even the British, who had been the staunchest ally of the United States inside Iraq, now seem to believe that what America broke, America bought.“Iraq isn’t on our priorities list,” explained Joerg Wolf, editor-in-chief of the Berlin-based Atlantic Initiative, a trans-Atlantic think tank. He noted his opinion was based on a recent survey of 250 European policy experts. “The belief is that this is now a U.S. problem, and the U.S. has to fix it.”But Wolf and a growing number of European policy experts believe this is a huge mistake. “The fact is, if Iraq turns south, there are major consequences for Europe.”In a global economic crisis, the role of world cop is particularly draining for America. The United States needs help, and that means Europe, specifically old Europe.Most of what the U.S. is now doing in Iraq, European countries can do as well. They can help train forces. They can educate bright, young Iraqis. They can work to create civil institutions. They can train bureaucrats. And, with less negative baggage in Iraq, they might be very effective. There are a couple of ways to get them politically involved. President Barack Obama is enormously popular in Europe. He’s going to have to ask, plead and twist arms to get more help.A good first step would be a major conference, later this year or early next year, focusing on the future of Iraq, organized by the U.S. but in which America stands in the background and listens.Beyond that, he should assign a U.S. envoy to work full time on European commitments to Iraq. Owen Cote Jr., associate director of the MIT Security Studies Program, suggests Iraq be encouraged to make it clear that it’s a simple quid pro quo.“If they want to share in the riches to come, they share now in the responsibilities,” he said. And, as a continent that benefited from the last Marshall Plan, Europe understands what it can mean.Private European firms see the economic potential of Iraq and are eager to get involved. One estimate is that of every 4 tons of concrete poured today in Iraq, 1 is poured by French firms. That’s an incentive to push for more governmental involvement. Iraq is a rich country. Many experts believe Europe knows it has to be involved. If Iraq implodes, Europe faces increased terrorist activity, regional warfare (on Europe’s doorstep), vastly increasing numbers of economic refugees and the potential that a failure there could mean a weakening of America the superpower.That last point means Europe would have to prepare to take on a more active geopolitical role, and increase military spending, something it has avoided in the post-World War II world.But beyond that are two facts: The Iraq invasion burned European-U.S. relations under President George W. Bush. And Iraq simply isn’t polite conversation these days.Dick Leurdijk, who studies European security for Holland’s Clingendael Institute, thinks that’s a huge mistake.“Iraq is in our backyard, not the backyard of the U.S.,” he said.But European leaders want to strengthen relations with the United States. And Iraq is divisive.Patrick Keller, a fellow at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that a military role is politically impossible. He thinks, however, that Europeans can aid on other fronts — diplomacy, training security forces and helping create civil institutions.

Posted on Thu, Jun. 18, 2009 10:15 PM

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A GOOD EXIT: LEAVING IRAQ

U.S. and Iraq need more help, less indifference from Europe

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BERLIN |

How is Europe reacting to the U.S. exit from Iraq?

It doesn’t care. That’s America’s problem.

The Germans don’t care. The French don’t care. The Dutch don’t care. Even the British, who had been the staunchest ally of the United States inside Iraq, now seem to believe that what America broke, America bought.

“Iraq isn’t on our priorities list,” explained Joerg Wolf, editor-in-chief of the Berlin-based Atlantic Initiative, a trans-Atlantic think tank. He noted his opinion was based on a recent survey of 250 European policy experts. “The belief is that this is now a U.S. problem, and the U.S. has to fix it.”

But Wolf and a growing number of European policy experts believe this is a huge mistake. “The fact is, if Iraq turns south, there are major consequences for Europe.”

In a global economic crisis, the role of world cop is particularly draining for America. The United States needs help, and that means Europe, specifically old Europe.

Most of what the U.S. is now doing in Iraq, European countries can do as well. They can help train forces. They can educate bright, young Iraqis. They can work to create civil institutions. They can train bureaucrats. And, with less negative baggage in Iraq, they might be very effective. There are a couple of ways to get them politically involved. President Barack Obama is enormously popular in Europe. He’s going to have to ask, plead and twist arms to get more help.

A good first step would be a major conference, later this year or early next year, focusing on the future of Iraq, organized by the U.S. but in which America stands in the background and listens.

Beyond that, he should assign a U.S. envoy to work full time on European commitments to Iraq.

Owen Cote Jr., associate director of the MIT Security Studies Program, suggests Iraq be encouraged to make it clear that it’s a simple quid pro quo.

“If they want to share in the riches to come, they share now in the responsibilities,” he said. And, as a continent that benefited from the last Marshall Plan, Europe understands what it can mean.

Private European firms see the economic potential of Iraq and are eager to get involved. One estimate is that of every 4 tons of concrete poured today in Iraq, 1 is poured by French firms. That’s an incentive to push for more governmental involvement. Iraq is a rich country.

Many experts believe Europe knows it has to be involved. If Iraq implodes, Europe faces increased terrorist activity, regional warfare (on Europe’s doorstep), vastly increasing numbers of economic refugees and the potential that a failure there could mean a weakening of America the superpower.

That last point means Europe would have to prepare to take on a more active geopolitical role, and increase military spending, something it has avoided in the post-World War II world.

But beyond that are two facts: The Iraq invasion burned European-U.S. relations under President George W. Bush. And Iraq simply isn’t polite conversation these days.

Dick Leurdijk, who studies European security for Holland’s Clingendael Institute, thinks that’s a huge mistake.

“Iraq is in our backyard, not the backyard of the U.S.,” he said.

But European leaders want to strengthen relations with the United States. And Iraq is divisive.

Patrick Keller, a fellow at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that a military role is politically impossible. He thinks, however, that Europeans can aid on other fronts — diplomacy, training security forces and helping create civil institutions.

Posted on Thu, Jun. 18, 2009 10:15 PM

Buzz Up

Comment (0)

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