Posted on 12/03/2004 3:15:44 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
WASHINGTON - Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Europe on Friday to help heal rifts over Iraq with the United States instead of relying on the Bush administration to be the peacemaker.
Widely respected in Europe and perceived as favoring traditional alliances more than other Cabinet members, Powell said Europe should respond in kind to President Bush's pledge to reach out across the Atlantic.
"I think Europe has to reach out as well," Powell told Reuters in an interview as he prepares to leave office. "We have to meet one another here and not just say, 'Come on, United States, it's all your fault. You heal these breaches."'
Bush's decision last year to invade Iraq without explicit U.N. approval angered European powers such as France, Germany and Spain, causing arguably the deepest split since World War II.
Attempts at reconciliation have been fitful.
Immediately after winning reelection last month, Bush vowed to mend fences with Europe and promised to visit the region early next year. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's top European ally, also urged his colleagues on the continent to work on improving relations so that the sides could cooperate on major issues such as Middle East peace.
But in a sign the sides were a long way from putting the past behind them, French President Jacques Chirac again infuriated Washington last month by accusing the United States of making the world a more dangerous place.
Powell, who visits Bulgaria, Belgium and the Netherlands next week to attend three major meetings, cited a new training mission in Iraq by the main trans-Atlantic alliance, NATO, as evidence "that particular breach is slowly being healed."
"I think if we keep that spirit of collaboration up and the president reaches out, as he said he would, I hope Europe also reaches out, so the remaining breaches can be healed," the top U.S. diplomat said.
Powell's departure has raised fears Europe has lost its best ally in the Bush administration.
The retired general, who often recalls his service as a young officer in Germany, was considered a counterweight in the Cabinet to those who steered the United States to a more unilateral approach to foreign policy.
Without Powell, who persuaded Bush to seek U.N. backing for the Iraq war despite others' misgivings, the president's war Cabinet is deprived of the dissenting voice of a sometimes lonesome dove.
Bush has picked his loyal national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to succeed Powell. Despite an overhaul of his Cabinet, he has also kept on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who famously dismissed some key allies who opposed the war as "old Europe."
Optimists on both sides of the Atlantic hope for a fresh start in Bush's second term, but others say a stubborn residue of mutual misunderstandings and policy differences cannot be wished away overnight.
U.S. officials may have dropped rhetorical attacks made at the height of the Iraq war, but stark differences remain over challenges such as confronting Iran on its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Powell said the United States, by acquiescing in European negotiations with the "axis-of-evil" member, showed the Bush administration was willing to compromise.
"We're often accused of acting unilaterally. This is a case where we're acting quite multilaterally," he said. "We have a view and the view is we should have referred this to the Security Council long ago -- but others feel otherwise."
Well, can't blame him for trying.....
This political bickering is pure nonsense. We ask for a little support after saving Europe time and time again (I'm talking to you, FRANCE!!). I really don't think this is a huge request.
Old Europe reminds me of my ex who would do something just despicable and then call and say "I'll apologize if you'll apologize."
What's he talking about?
Europe reaches a hand out to us all the time!
Whenever they need a hand-out...
We should just realize that France and many others are our enemy now. May not be old USSR or Iran, but France is not our friend and does everything possible to hurt us.
Chirac is just trying to shift focus away from his complicity in the Oil For Fraud scandal. If we ever reach out and shake the hand of Old Europe we'd best remember to count our fingers when we're finished.
Prairie
Powell knows those little countries are acting like women with their snouts in the air as if their pharts don't stink. After Powell's last paycheck clears, he may have some choice words for them. He looks like a man who has kept a storm within.
Bingo!
France is hopeless. An overwhelming majority of Frenchmen hate us and it's an institutional thing. But the rest of Europe might swing back our direction, especially Germany and Holland. Poland is already there. So is Italy. So is Romania. As is Hungary.
I'm not willing to give up this fight yet.
A bright man knows the two most important words are "I'm Sorry". This is on a bigger stage, though. It is time we put them on a rack and make THEM say "I'm Sorry"; corrupt, undisciplined, open-loop countries which I have loved years ago while living there need to pay attention. Now.
Hmmm, I lived "there" as well. A lot of what has happened has been quite painful. I am in complete agreement with you.
Reuters, you guys always seem to get something incorrect. I suspect it's by design. Spain at the time was with the United States.
I lived near Madrid in the late 80's for 3 years. France, Holland, England, Germany, Schweiss, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Portugal. A few languages over borders and I left with the impression they were all morphed into a bunch of big cities strung together with the veneer of being in individual countries.
Same to you, fellas. :-)
The International left always complains about American unilateralism without judging the end of our actions. Yet when we act in multilaterally They also complain. Therefore, If its unilateral, multilateral or whatever is not what they are complaining about but American Foreign Policy.
I have been to two areas in Europe that have really great people.
Edinburgh to Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Scotland. A swath of land full of down-to-earth people that want to meet you and talk and eat dinner with.
Almaria to Torremolinos, Spain. Same as above. They'll tease you in Spanish, until you know they know English and eat roasted lamb and drink sangria with the best salad and breads I have ever tasted. And you can watch a shepherd with his "lawnmowers" take care of the "lawns". While watching Arnold Schwartzeneggar talk Espanol on TV. Very conservative folks.
After praising Anan, I really don't want to hear another word from Powell.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.