January 29, 2003

ALONE TOGETHER:

Europe split as leaders back US on Iraq (George Jones and Robin Gedye, 30/01/2003, Daily Telegraph)
The split in Europe over America's readiness to go to war against Iraq deepened last night when leaders of seven European nations joined Tony Blair in calling for the Continent to stand united with President George W Bush.

The diplomatic initiative, masterminded by Spain and Britain, did not include France or Germany, the two EU nations that have been most critical of what they fear is a rush to war by the US.

The appeal by the leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic is a boost for Mr Blair who has sought to build a European coalition of support for Mr Bush.


Life holds no more beautiful prospect than that of Germany and France isolated from the rest of the West and stuck with only each other.

MORE:
Eight leaders rally 'new' Europe to America's side (Philip Webster, January 30, 2003, Times of London)
Blair gains Europe support on Iraq (BBC, 29 January, 2003)
Blair's Iraq gamble (Andrew Marr, BBC)

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 29, 2003 9:07 PM
Comments

I'm pleased as well to see a story include eastern European nations when speaking of "Europe."



Amazing what a little speech can do, huh? And here I was under the impression the President's poll numbers had collapsed, the anti-war movement was ascendant, and the Franco-German axis had veto power over U.S. policy. I guess I shouldn't pay so much attention to Peter Jennings. :)

Posted by: Kevin Whited at January 29, 2003 10:23 PM

or his Edgar Bergen--Tom Daschle

Posted by: oj at January 29, 2003 10:28 PM

I expect the Czechs signed on with especial

fervor.

Posted by: Harry at January 29, 2003 11:22 PM

It's particularly interesting that this story is getting so little play in the NYT (our, um, "paper of record") when you realize that the countries that have gone on record here have a combined population of 230MM, vs. only 140MM for the "Axis of Weasels" (or, to be generous, 150MM if you let them count Belgium and Luxembourg, but those countries have always seemed to be more in the hedgehog category).

Posted by: Harry Tolen at January 30, 2003 12:52 PM
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