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The actual influence of world opinion The actual influence of world opinion with respect to the Iraq crisis can be registered. This began when the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, learnt that by expressing opposition to German participation in a war on Iraq, his popularity grew. It proved a key factor in helping him come from behind to win a very close election. The outcome breached the rules of the cold war, when no left-wing party running on a ticket that could be construed as opposed to American global policy ever won an election (Charles de Gaulle did so in France – but from the right). Why did Schröder do it? An answer lies in his visit to President Bush in February 2002 as a Chancellor who had persuaded his country to send troops to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the first time German forces had gone into action outside Europe since 1945. He had expended a great political cost and effort to achieve this. It seems that Schröder asked his American counterpart about a possible coalition Iraq strategy and put three questions to him about military action there. If they went in, what were the plans for getting out? How would it help the war against terror – what were the connections between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida? And how would they ensure the operation was legal in international law as the German constitution required? It seems he got no reply. Not even a short call saying, “Sorry Gerhardt, I understand your concerns but please see it my way.” Instead, the US started to talk about regime change. The German Chancellor reacted as many do when they are told they are not wanted. In that case, he responded, I don’t want to be part of it. Perhaps he might have been persuaded. Instead, he discovered that his reaction was warmly welcomed by large sections of German public opinion. He had come home – and a breach had been made in the world order. For Schröder’s example opened up new possibilities. Everyone said he was wrong to have boxed himself into a fixed position by saying that, even with a full United Nations (UN) resolution, German troops would not participate in an attack on Iraq. Perhaps so; but it gave France the opportunity to tie Germany to a joint position in Europe and this drew President Chirac towards the position of refusing an immediate war. Throughout the last few months, every well-known voice of experience expressed certainty that France was ‘being cynical’ and would back the US and participate in the spoils of Iraq when it came to a vote in the UN. Now the rage of Anglo-Saxon diplomats is unspeakable: France is not being cynical enough! Yet, within weeks, its German-inspired policy has delivered better relations with Algeria and new interests and opportunities beckon. Chirac ‘came home’ as, much to everyone’s surprise, the crook has abandoned his holdings in Iraq. It was not a protest movement which drove the two European leaders to their different defiance of America. It was the magnetic force of an extensive world opinion that exists in different ways in different places, which they found themselves giving voice to in their countries. They began to represent it. They discovered the energy and popularity which it generated. This then started to hold them to it. >> Und was sollte daran nicht legitim sein- erstens ist das sehr demokratisch, zweitens macht Bush das gleiche mit dem Krieg, denkt an die Popularitätswerte!<< It is important to distinguish the popularity of their policy of resistance to the American will for war on Iraq from their own personal standing and their domestic policies. What I am calling ‘world opinion’ draws on a taproot that goes deeper than partisan campaigns. Worldwide in its sweep, it ignores the boundaries of traditional allegiance. http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-2-33-1052.jsp |
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| aus der Diskussion: | Waffeninspektoren: Die deutsche Schuld am Krieg! |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | sittin bull inv (27.03.03 19:12:23) |
| Beitrag: | 68 von 119 (ID:9009171) |
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