New York Times February 14, 2003
A Warning on Iraq, From a Friend
By JEAN-DAVID LEVITTE
W ASHINGTON Reading the papers from both sides of the Atlantic, I
sometimes wonder whether the impending war is not between France and
the United States. I would like to strongly reaffirm what, in the
heart of the French people, is a longstanding reality: the friendship
between France and America began in the early days of your fight for
independence and has endured throughout the centuries.
America rescued my country twice in the last century something we will
never forget. Today we stand side by side in many parts of the world,
including Afghanistan. France is the largest contributor of troops to
NATO operations. Our friendship is a treasure, and it must be
maintained, protected, enhanced.
However, the polls are clear: 78 percent of French people oppose a
military intervention in Iraq. Polls are similar in most other
countries, including in Eastern Europe. European governments may be
divided over the use of force in Iraq, but public opinion is united.
There are, in my view, three reasons the mood is so cautious. The
first relates to our assessment of what is far and away the biggest
threat to world peace and stability: Al Qaeda.
French intelligence is clear that not since the Algerian war 40 years
ago has my country been under such an immediate threat. Last May, 11
French citizens were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi, Pakistan.
In the fall a French tanker was attacked by Al Qaeda off Yemen. And in
December, near Paris, we arrested several suspects who were suspected
of close links to Al Qaeda and of planning terrorist attacks in
France.
Terrorist suspects have also been arrested elsewhere in Europe in
Britain, Spain and Italy belonging to groups connected with networks
active in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Algeria and Bosnia. Yet we haven't
seen any evidence of a direct link between the Iraqi regime and Al
Qaeda.
A second reason for the reluctance of the French people is that Iraq
is not viewed as an immediate threat. Thanks to the determination of
President Bush and the international community and to the inspections
that destroyed more armaments between 1991 and 1998 than did the
Persian Gulf war itself, and which have now been reinforced with
stronger means and bigger teams Saddam Hussein is in a box. And the
box has been closed with the inspectors in it.
Europeans consider North Korea a greater threat. Imagine what a sense
of security we all would feel if, as in Iraq, 100 inspectors were
proceeding with unimpeded inspections throughout North Korea,
including the president's palaces.
A third reason for the cautious mood relates to the consequences of a
war in Iraq. We see Iraq as a very complex country, with many
different ethnic groups, a tradition of violence and no experience of
democracy. You can't create democracy with bombs in Iraq, it would
require time, a strong presence and a strong committment.
We also worry about the region considering that no peace process is at
work for the moment in the Middle East, that none of the great powers
seem able to foster one, and that a war in Iraq could result in more
frustration and bitterness in the Arab and Muslim worlds.
People in France and more broadly in Europe fear that a military
intervention could fuel extremism and encourage Qaeda recruitment. A
war could weaken the indispensable international coalition against
terrorism and worsen the threat of Islamic terrorism.
The inspections should be pursued and strengthened, and Saddam Hussein
must be made to cooperate actively. War must remain the very last
option.
Jean-David Levitte is French ambassador to the United States.
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