Military

SHAPE News Summary & Analysis

13 November 2003

ESDP

• In Berlin Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Solana advocated the establishment of a command staff for joint military operations by the EU, reports Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Even today, the EU is able to plan such a mission as it has about 100 officers at its disposal, he reportedly noted, adding, however that it also needs a command staff because the three member states that can lead such a mission (Britain, France and Germany) are not constantly available for this. Germany, for example, is busy with the command of the Afghanistan mission, he noted. According to the newspaper, he contradicted fears that such a command unit could become a counterweight to SHAPE. In the EU, it is a matter of “30 to 40” persons, while there are thousands at SHAPE, the newspaper quotes Solana saying and insisting: “Nobody is striving for a second SHAPE. This is a theoretical debate.” In a related article, Financial Times Deutschland, Nov. 12, quoted Solana saying he saw a possible compromise in putting into practice possible options to conduct EU operations. In addition to an EU headquarters, “there should be an EU planning unit at NATO, as advocated by London,” as well as the establishment of national headquarters for multinational EU operations” Solana was quoted saying. With this, he reportedly continued, the EU would have the toolbox to react flexibly to all possible kinds of options.”
  
  
• According to the Financial Times, Britain, France and Germany are close to clinching a deal over EU defense cooperation ahead of the final rounds of Intergovernmental Conference (ICG) negotiations set to end next month. The newspaper quotes diplomats saying the talks between the three countries will set out ways to push forward European defense without leaving it to a few countries to lead any EU-led military operation carried out independently of NATO. EU diplomats reportedly indicated that London and Paris were moving closer to a compromise over the criteria for “structured cooperation.” One of the main ideas circulating is that the criteria should be focused on capability output, a senior diplomat involved in IGC negotiations is quoted saying. In practice, the diplomat reportedly indicated, all member states would accept the principle of meeting targets for improving military capabilities by a realistic date. This would include the ability to deploy in a matter of two weeks--if not less--troops and back-up for independent EU missions. Such missions would be agreed by all the member states and not by a few. Countries that did not have the capabilities or did not want to participate would not block the mission.
  
  
• AFP quotes EU foreign policy chief Solana saying Wednesday that the EU’s success in helping make Iran account for its nuclear program is a model of how the organization must conduct its future diplomacy. By sending the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany to Iran last month, he reportedly told a Berlin conference, the EU has taken preventive action which could help avoid future conflict. According to the dispatch, he stressed that the strategy—addressing specific threats with targeted tools and methods—was one of three areas where the EU could make a difference to global security. He said the second was to “promote an arc of well-governed states” from the Middle East to the Caucasus via the western Balkans with which to share close and cooperative relations. The third, he added, was for the EU to create “an effective approach to international order” based upon agreed rules and demonstrate a willingness to enforce the respect of those rules. Financial Times Deutschland, Nov. 12, wrote that Solana’s preventive concept is part of his first international EU security doctrine, which he wants to present the EU heads of state and government for approval in December.

IRAQ

• Media focus on Wednesday’s attack against the Italian military headquarters in Nasiriyah. The Wall Street Journal observes that the attack was the deadliest one against coalition personnel since the war started, and appears to be part of an increasingly systematic effort by opponents of the United States to drive a wedge between America and its allies. “The strike at the Italian forces seems designed to send a signal to American friends in Europe to stay away, most likely in hopes American forces will be isolated and unable to build a system that can survive after they leave,” the newspaper opines. It notes that the death of at least 16 Italian military came alongside a grim new U.S. intelligence report that suggested the insurgency is having success choosing attacks to destabilize the country and discourage Iraqis from cooperating with their occupiers. Remarking that those developments, amid the continued violence, are forcing the Bush administration toward a turning point in its handling of Iraq, the newspaper stresses that signs of a new approach began emerging late Wednesday. U.S. forces launched an aggressive military offensive in Baghdad in response to the constant shelling of its own compounds. The White House also moved to revamp its long-term strategy in Iraq, accelerating plans for a handover of power to a new transitional government within the next four to six month, the newspaper adds. It reports that in an effort to calm Iraqi anger at the U.S. occupation and to leach off popular support for the insurgency, Washington has decided to speed up the timetable for Iraqi-self government. The article quotes a senior U.S. official saying there is general agreement for dissolving the current Iraqi Governing Council, and over the next four to six months creating a transitional government with a prime minister and cabinet to present a clear Iraqi face to the nation and the world. In that scenario, the official reportedly said, without a U.S. administrator in charge, American influence in Iraq would be maintained by a strong U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, a continued robust military presence and the billions of dollars in pledged U.S. aid.
  
  
• In an interview with Paris’ Europe 1 radio, French Foreign Minister de Villepin urged the United States to hand over political power to the Iraqis “before the year is out” and offered France’s help in any way possible. Insisting that the world community was at a crossroads and that it was time to hold consultations at the highest level, he said: “Today we are ready to take part in any meeting, any consultation. Our hand is held out to our American friends because the challenge affects us all. The security of the world is at issue…. President Bush can expect from France solidarity, ideas and courage. France is a friend and ally of the U.S. We have shown our constant willingness to put forward ideas to our American friends since the start of this tragic crisis. We have always told them what we thought was the right way.” Citing the increasing number of deaths in Iraq, he insisted that “the world community must act,” and that “it is clear that we need a special envoy of the UN secretary general to work in Iraq alongside Paul Bremer, the U.S. representative.” He called for the formation of a “representative assembly” of Iraqis that could be named by the various Iraqi bodies now in place, such as the Iraqi Governing Council “before the year is out,” and continued: “There’s no question of demanding the withdrawal of American troops. The Americans have launched a mission. That mission must be conducted so as to provide greater security, but it must also be conducted under the aegis of the Iraqis themselves. Iraqi sovereignty must be the point of departure.”