BlackRain
03-18-2004, 10:03 AM
Spanish papers join forces with Austrian and German dailies to voice concern at the proposed withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq.
A week on from the Madrid train bombings, the sense of unease in the press at the prospect of further terrorist attacks remains palpable.
Loss of confidence
Following Spain's pledge to pull its troops out of Iraq, two of the country's papers are concerned about the impact of the decision on Madrid's relations with its allies.
Surely few people believe Spain can withdraw its troops from Iraq without adversely affecting the confidence our allies place in us
La Razon
La Razon says that if the new government goes ahead with the withdrawal, it is likely to lose the trust of its international partners.
"As a sovereign state," the paper concedes, "Spain... can legally do so, free of consequences."
"But surely few people believe this can be done without adversely affecting... the confidence our allies place in us."
"Something will have been broken," the paper warns, "and it will prove very hard to put it together again."
ABC says Spaniards know the incoming government's commitment to recall troops from Iraq predates the Madrid train bombings.
But Spain's new leaders, it adds, will find it hard to explain to their allies "how we can find it possible to honour that pledge in the aftermath of the butchery perpetrated in Madrid".
'Moment of truth'
Germany's Die Welt is also uneasy about the prospect of a Spanish withdrawal, but for rather different reasons.
Not only is the future of the Middle East at stake, the paper says, "but also the dignity, security and cohesion of our civilisation".
"A Europe of the law, of self-assertion and of security," it adds, "is only possible if Europeans stand by what is dear to them."
Those who cosy up to Bush too much will be punished by the voters
Der Tagesspiegel
"This is the moment of truth."
Austria's Der Standard believes the onus is now on the US to ensure continued international involvement.
"The Spaniards will be sorely missed in Iraq," the paper says.
"The USA will urgently have to come up with some ideas to engage the international community."
Back in Germany, Der Tagesspiegel views Spain's plans as a severe blow to the Bush administration and "a triumph for 'old Europe'".
"Today Madrid, tomorrow Rome, and the day after tomorrow Warsaw," the paper forecasts.
"Those who cosy up to Bush too much will be punished by the voters."
'Matter of urgency'
Every day for the past week, the issue of Europe's response to the threat of terrorism has been spurring newspaper debate. Thursday is no different.
Europe is failing to punch its weight in fighting terrorism, says France's Liberation. What is needed is "greater political will on the part of all EU member states".
Switzerland cannot afford to be the soft underbelly of Europe's fight against terrorism
Le Temps
"This is not a pious hope," it observes, "but a matter of urgency."
Switzerland's Le Temps says its readers also have cause for concern.
"Switzerland would be wrong to think the problem does not affect it," the paper comments.
"Investigations show it is being used as a support base by fanatics of international jihad."
In the wake of the Madrid attacks, it adds, the country's politicians "must know Switzerland cannot afford to be the soft underbelly of Europe's fight against terrorism".
But in the Czech Republic, Pravo is in more optimistic mood.
"Despite all the mistakes the Euro-Atlantic civilisation produces almost serially," the paper says, "it is strong and hardy."
The only way international terrorism can threaten that civilisation, the paper argues, is if it finds "an ally within the gates".
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3522136.stm
A week on from the Madrid train bombings, the sense of unease in the press at the prospect of further terrorist attacks remains palpable.
Loss of confidence
Following Spain's pledge to pull its troops out of Iraq, two of the country's papers are concerned about the impact of the decision on Madrid's relations with its allies.
Surely few people believe Spain can withdraw its troops from Iraq without adversely affecting the confidence our allies place in us
La Razon
La Razon says that if the new government goes ahead with the withdrawal, it is likely to lose the trust of its international partners.
"As a sovereign state," the paper concedes, "Spain... can legally do so, free of consequences."
"But surely few people believe this can be done without adversely affecting... the confidence our allies place in us."
"Something will have been broken," the paper warns, "and it will prove very hard to put it together again."
ABC says Spaniards know the incoming government's commitment to recall troops from Iraq predates the Madrid train bombings.
But Spain's new leaders, it adds, will find it hard to explain to their allies "how we can find it possible to honour that pledge in the aftermath of the butchery perpetrated in Madrid".
'Moment of truth'
Germany's Die Welt is also uneasy about the prospect of a Spanish withdrawal, but for rather different reasons.
Not only is the future of the Middle East at stake, the paper says, "but also the dignity, security and cohesion of our civilisation".
"A Europe of the law, of self-assertion and of security," it adds, "is only possible if Europeans stand by what is dear to them."
Those who cosy up to Bush too much will be punished by the voters
Der Tagesspiegel
"This is the moment of truth."
Austria's Der Standard believes the onus is now on the US to ensure continued international involvement.
"The Spaniards will be sorely missed in Iraq," the paper says.
"The USA will urgently have to come up with some ideas to engage the international community."
Back in Germany, Der Tagesspiegel views Spain's plans as a severe blow to the Bush administration and "a triumph for 'old Europe'".
"Today Madrid, tomorrow Rome, and the day after tomorrow Warsaw," the paper forecasts.
"Those who cosy up to Bush too much will be punished by the voters."
'Matter of urgency'
Every day for the past week, the issue of Europe's response to the threat of terrorism has been spurring newspaper debate. Thursday is no different.
Europe is failing to punch its weight in fighting terrorism, says France's Liberation. What is needed is "greater political will on the part of all EU member states".
Switzerland cannot afford to be the soft underbelly of Europe's fight against terrorism
Le Temps
"This is not a pious hope," it observes, "but a matter of urgency."
Switzerland's Le Temps says its readers also have cause for concern.
"Switzerland would be wrong to think the problem does not affect it," the paper comments.
"Investigations show it is being used as a support base by fanatics of international jihad."
In the wake of the Madrid attacks, it adds, the country's politicians "must know Switzerland cannot afford to be the soft underbelly of Europe's fight against terrorism".
But in the Czech Republic, Pravo is in more optimistic mood.
"Despite all the mistakes the Euro-Atlantic civilisation produces almost serially," the paper says, "it is strong and hardy."
The only way international terrorism can threaten that civilisation, the paper argues, is if it finds "an ally within the gates".
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3522136.stm