'Old Europe' hits back with four letter fusillade
In one outburst after another, French and German ministers lashed out at the US defence secretary today with one even evoking a four-letter word, in the clearest sign yet the Iraqi crisis has split the Atlantic alliance.
President Jacques Chirac was forced to intervene to calm nerves and stop the spat between the former Cold War allies from spiralling into a full-blown diplomatic crisis.
The row erupted after Donald Rumsfeld shocked many by brushing aside France and Germany’s newly unveiled anti-war stance, saying the two nations represented an “old Europe” of the past.
Rumsfeld hinted Washington would turn to new Nato members in eastern Europe for support in an Iraq war.
“You look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe, they’re not with France and Germany on this,” he said. “The centre of gravity is shifting to the east, and there are a lot of new members.”
In Paris and Berlin, the remarks were seen as yet another example of American arrogance, while officials in eastern Europe appeared baffled at the importance suddenly conferred upon them. Most indicated their position on Iraq was actually closer to that of France and Germany than the United States.
In one of the sharpest reactions to the defence secretary’s remarks, French Ecology Minister Roselyne Bachelot said: “If you knew what I felt like telling him, to Mr Rumsfeld ... “
She then used a well-known regional expression dating from the Napoleonic era for a four-letter word.
The French government’s official spokesman, Jean-Francois Cope, said Rumsfeld would do better to listen to the “wise” advice of the ’old Europe’ gained through its long history. Even Finance Minister Francis Mer didn’t keep out the fray, saying he was “profoundly vexed.”
Before departing on a tour of Turkey and the Middle East to cool the Iraqi crisis, Germany’s Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer vented his feelings: “We should try to treat each other sensibly,” he said.
A German opposition leader was less conciliatory. ”Rumsfeld is not a diplomat,” said Volker Ruehe, a former defence minister.
The mutual resentment showed how far differences over Iraq have driven a wedge through Nato since September 11, when all of the alliance’s members vowed to stand firmly behind the United States.
Nevertheless, Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson sought to downplay the differences, saying “this is not some sort of bust-up.”
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Chirac were engaged in celebrations marking 40 years of German-French post-war reconciliation as Rumsfeld said their countries represented Europe of the past.
Neither Schroeder nor Chirac directly responded to Rumsfeld today, but the German leader stiffened his opposition, saying Germany and France would stick to their anti-war stance and “never accept” that war is inevitable.
