U.K. stands isolated in Europe

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, FEB. 18. Britain finds itself completely isolated in Europe over its participation in the U.S.-led airstrikes against Iraq with none of its European allies happy about the decision and France openly joining the protest by two other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Russia and China.

Britain's enthusiastic backing of the U.S. decision is seen as a total disregard of European sensitivities and an `opportunistic' attempt to humour the new White House on the eve of the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair's meeting with the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, next weekend. While it is not likely to have any serious impact on Anglo-European relations, London's `solo' performance is expected to heighten Europe's latent distrust of Britain when it comes to dealing with Washington.

Britain's ambivalent stand on the U.S. plans for a nuclear missile defence shield as against Europe's opposition to it has already ruffled European feathers as indeed on the question of sanctions against Iraq.

Some analysts suggested that after Britain's supporting role in the bombing of Baghdad, Europe could legitimately conclude that if pressed to choose between U.S. and Europe, Britain would be inclined to plump for U.S. There were fears that in its bid to cultivate the new administration in Washington, Britain could end up losing the confidence of its European allies who have strong reservations about Mr. Bush's foreign policy and the attack on Baghdad has reinforced these reservations.

At home, Mr. Blair came under attack from within his own party with MPs expressing concern that Britain should allow itself to be seen pursuing American agenda. The view was that while Mr. Bush had his own reasons to take on Mr. Saddam Hussein - basically resuming where Bush Senior left it - Britain had no obvious interest in stoking the fire. ``Obviously George Bush is getting his own agenda from his father's previous failures in Iraq and Blair is wanting to cement the U.K. relationship with him. I don't think that is justified,'' said Mr. John McAllion, a Labour MP, while the Chairman of the Labour parliamentary party, Mr. Clive Soley, felt there was an ``uncomfortable feeling that Saddam and Bush are reliving the Gulf War''.Mr. Blair however remained defiant and said Britain was prepared to take the ``steps necessary to protect our forces and to prevent Saddam from once again wreaking havoc, suffering and death''.

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Section  : International
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