"We see Iraq as a very complex country, with many differ-ent ethnic groups, a tradition of violence, and no experi-ence of democracy. You can't create democracy with bombs." So wrote Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador to the United States in the New York Times in February 2003, justifying his country's opposition to the impending American invasion of Iraq. As the United States sinks deeper into trouble in Iraq, the European countries that opposed the war are resisting the temptation to gloat-at least in public. But "Old Europe" also seems less and less inclined to try to lend a helping hand. As a result, the transatlantic rift that opened up because of Iraq shows little sign of healing. On the contrary, it may widen. As recendy as a couple of months ago, it seemed that even France and Germany might eventually be persuaded to play some positive role in Iraq. But as the security situation has deteriorated, the notion that more European countries might be persuaded to commit troops to Iraq-perhaps under NATO or the UN-has lost plausibility. The struggle now is to persuade those already there, like the Italians and Poles, not to follow the Spanish and pull out. Philip Gordon of America's Brookings Institution, who has just co-authored a study of the diplomatic crisis over Iraq ("Allies at War", published by McGraw-Hill) says: "Until a couple of months ago, I was optimistic that Europe and America could put this behind us." But he is now "deeply pessimistic" about the chances of a new transatlantic accord over Iraq, at least until after the American presidential election.
展开▼
