08 June 2004 19:21
Italian commentary says Bush "got what he was after" in Europe trip
Two major historical anniversaries and the noble rhetoric that inevitably accompanies meetings between statesmen on
such occasions have partially overshadowed the political significance of US President Bush's trip to Europe. Bush
is going through a difficult time. He has to face the judgment of his electorate and to prove that his administration is
capable of emerging from the hornets' nest in Iraq.
However his planned political and institutional timetable - the handover of power to an Iraqi government, an
election, a constituent assembly, another election, and a new government - will be credible only if it is endorsed by
the United Nations, in other words by those very Security Council members who opposed the United States' war in
Iraq. So Bush came to Europe to ask something of France, of Germany, and of Russia. [Passage omitted]
It is likely that Bush got what he was after. France, Germany, and Russia cannot afford to be seen as the saboteurs
of a reasonable peace process. France, in particular, has conducted some pretty tough negotiations to get the United
States to ensure that the Iraqi government has broader powers, and to agree to set a deadline on its troops'
presence in the country. But it does not want to start last spring's duel again and it will end up voicing its
agreement. So there will be a resolution and, barring any last-minute incidents, Bush will be able to announce to the US
electorate a plan with the backing of the world's most important international organization.
[Passage omitted]
We may harbour a myriad doubts regarding the ability of the US plan to rectify Washington's mistakes. But no
European government can afford to turn its back on the situation and leave the great power to pull its own chestnuts out
of the fire. We have a duty to try, possibly while recalling the words of William of Orange back in the days of the war
against the Spanish. He said: "It is not necessary to succeed to endeavour", and in the end his endeavour was
crowned with success.
[Corriere della Sera] |
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