Vichy Europe slouches to sidelines as the New Europe rallies to Bush

The Franco-German regime of Europe is having a hard time making the rest of the continent behave. At least eight European states have had the audacity to oppose Paris and Berlin’s frantic attempts to save Saddam Hussein and his stockpiles of poison gas from American-led military power.

The New Europe is rejecting the latest version of French-German collaborationism.

Britain has been the most visible supporter of the US. Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi’s visit to the White House this week underlines that there’s much more to Europe than the latest French-German diplomatic offensive to save Saddam. The Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Spain joined Italy and the UK in strong statements – and more importantly, actions – in support of a US-led liberation of Iraq.

Australia has been with the US from the start. Turkey and Jordan, both understandably uncomfortable about being left to hang after the First Persian Gulf War twelve years ago, are also providing Washington with use of their territory and airspace for a removal of Saddam’s regime. Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar are hosting vital forward-basing resources. Several other countries are also helping in special ways.

With former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt writing a forceful essay backing Bush in the International Herald Tribune and even squeamish Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien looking more uncomfortable than ever over his recent anti-US rhetoric, the world once again is looking openly for American leadership. President Bush manifested it magnificently in his recent State of the Union speech.

Even Germany’s socialist Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is now admitting that his anti-American drive might have been for nothing. Let him and France remain in the opposition. They have renounced their right to share freedom’s victory in Iraq.