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The European Union: from idleness to German action

Miguel

George W. Bush’s destiny in the hands of the US Military

Rafael Moreno analyzes Washington’s change in Iraq strategy under the command of the new guru of guerilla warfare: David Petraeus. While other Generals have sought to destroy the rebels with force, Petraeus has as his objective the isolation of the insurgents by winning the hearts and minds of the local population. By providing security, employment, reconstruction, and democracy to the people, Petraeus has had some success in the Northern Provinces of Iraq, but in Moreno’s opinion, the real test will be whether his model can be extended to the rest of the country, attaining security through force and power. Has Petraeus been given an impossible mission?

As America’s Discontent with Bush Grows, Europeans Sigh with Relief

Martin Varsavsky writes on the relief felt throughout Europe at the fall of President Bush’s approval rating. During the peak of Bush’s popularity, his anti-European, confrontational policy of you’re either with us or against us did a great amount of damage to US-European relations. In Varsavsky’s opinion, although the democratization of Iraq has failed, now that US public opinion is beginning to understand the fallacy of Bush’s close-minded approach, trans-Atlantic relations will be greatly improved.

Complicating the War in Iraq

Lev Weiss writes on the changing nature of war in the 21st century and on the failures of the United States government in adapting. In Weiss‘ opinion, no amount of military might will be sufficient to win the wars of the present. Instead, complex solutions need to be devised involving diplomacy, and thorough planning. Iraq could have been a success had the Pentagon planned properly to win the trust of the Iraqi people. And the US can still win the War on Terrorism, once it realizes that terrorism is not something that can be warred against. The US must leave behind its simplistic idealism, and open its eyes to the growing complexity of the twenty first century.

Lessons for Bolivia’s future

Pedro G. Cavallero writes on the difficulty that the Latin American Left has had in governing, according to former President of Bolivia, Jaime Paz Zamora. In Paz Zamora’s opinion, it is essential for the Left to create unity rather than division, to seek out friends in all political parties, and to avoid becoming lost in close-minded, partisan manoeuvring. A new trend of social democratization is sweeping Latin America. By branching out to create unity rather than division, Morales can also be a part of Latin America’s New Left.

Argentina 2007: Latin America’s Last Election