Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=02/27/03

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=KURRILD KLITGAARD,POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK.

NUMBER=3-562

BYLINE=REBECCA WARD

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

/// Editors: This interview is available in Dalet under SOD/English News Now Interviews in the folder for today or yesterday ///

HOST: President Bush outlined his vision of a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq during a speech late Wednesday in Washington. In an address carried live on television, President Bush re-emphasized his position that Iraq must be disarmed -- by force, if necessary. He said a liberated Iraq can transform the entire region by bringing hope and progress to the lives of millions in the Middle East. And, the president said, it could also bring a new stage for Middle East peace and progress toward a democratic Palestinian State.

Although the president enjoys a majority of support here in the United States, his stance on Iraq has not been well-received in many parts of Europe. So, the question is, did his speech Wednesday night help further his case to a skeptical European public? Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard (KUR-RELD KLIT-guard) is a political science professor who specializes in comparative politics at the University of Southern Denmark. He tells V-O-A's Rebecca Ward that it might have helped.

PROF. KURRILD KLITGAARD: I think a lot of commentators have noticed that it was good to see the United States make it clear that they did not have any sort of imperialistic intentions, but they wanted to get out of Iraq as soon as possible. Also, I think it was noted with some acclaim that the United States wanted to impose not its own ideals of some sort, but create a democratic, rule-of-law-based society in Iraq, and then let it run itself. I think that has generally received positive support in Europe.

Also, the remarks that the president made with regard to trying to suggest a roadmap for peace in Israel and the Palestine areas, I think that would probably get a very positive response in Europe because, fairly or unfairly, Europeans have perceived the Bush administration as being very one-sided, pro-Israel. And whether that is fair or not, I think that these remarks by the president will certainly gain him more support in Europe.

In fact, I think the whole speech yesterday (early Thursday, UTC), to the extent that it will be noticed in Europe, will probably be to the benefit of the Bush administration among the European population.

MS. WARD: Is the concern over Iraq, is it more of a concern that the United States is determined to do it with or without international backing, or is it a general anti-war sentiment?

PROF. KURRILD KLITGAARD: I think there is a whole lot of anti-war sentiment to it, as such, and you've definitely also seen an increased anti-Americanism and anti-Bush administration sentiment all over Europe. However, I think that whether it's anti-war or it's anti-Bush or it's moderately in favor of doing something against the Saddam Hussein regime depends a whole lot on which particular country that you're speaking of. So, in some countries, you will have widespread opposition to any form of involvement, and then, in other cases, as in my own nation of Denmark, it sort of depends as to whether it will be with or without a U-N mandate.

MS. WARD: So, as far as the Danes go, they would back a U.N.-backed --

PROF. KURRILD KLITGAARD: The most recent opinion poll in Denmark on this subject shows this sort of split opinion quite clearly, among Danes, approximately 70 percent in favor of supporting a U-N action if there was a new resolution supporting some action against the Saddam Hussein regime. So, that is very sort of broad support for intervention of some sort. However, if it is a question of whether to support the U-S, Great Britain and perhaps Spain going alone, the support drops dramatically, even below 40 percent. So, support or opposition depends a whole lot on the context.

MS. WARD: I want to ask you about President Bush himself. President Bush is well liked in the United States, but not so much liked according to the European press.

PROF. KURRILD KLITGAARD: Well, I think there are many reasons for that. First of all, what Bush has against him most of all in Europe is that he's a Republican. And while the Europeans tend to be skeptical towards any American president, it's certainly the case that they are much more skeptical when it's a Republican administration than a Democratic administration. So, that's the first problem.

I think also that actually in the U-S the whole 2000 presidential election made a big impact in the way that George Bush was perceived from the moment that he came into office.

MS. WARD: Can he overcome that perception if a war in Iraq is successful?

PROF. KURRILD KLITGAARD: I think it is difficult. But if the intervention, the war that will probably take place with regard to Iraq, if that is over in a very short time and with a relatively minimal cost, both in terms of human life, civil and in terms of American soldiers and so on, if that happens -- and I also think, to some extent, if the European economy picks up a little bit -- then I think that any concerns that the Europeans might have with regard to President Bush will be in sometime forgotten.

Host: Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard (KUR-RELD KLIT-guard) is a political science professor who specializes in comparative politics at the University of Southern Denmark. He spoke to V-O-A's Now's Rebecca Ward.

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