Global Beat Syndicate: Making Asia a Priority, Not a Threat

In the war against terrorism, Europe has an historical debt to pay

By Louis R. Golino

September 24, 2001

WASHINGTON -- Throughout the last century, it was the United States who came to Europe’s aid during its moments of peril. Now the shoe should be on the other foot. A significant European role in President Bush’s global war on terrorism is vital to both the war's chances of success and the survival of the U.S.-European relationship.

When the going gets tough, as it certainly will, Europe's common cause with its American ally must take precedence over traditional differences on foreign policy and dealing with rogue states. In the face of the devastating September 11 attacks and the difficult struggle ahead, solidarity, not nuance, must be the order the day.

There are four key elements to the role Europe should play in the U.S.-led assault on terrorists and the states that support them:

The first is political support. Already the mutual defense clauses of the NATO treaty and other allied pacts have been invoked. These provide powerful symbols of solidarity with the US.

Washington will decide what help, if any, it actually needs from the nations party to these treaties. The Bush administration probably will not assemble a force based strictly on the NATO alliance. Indeed, important members of the coalition that is shaping up include Russia and several former Soviet republics in Central Asia that border strategically on Afghanistan. Nonetheless, certain European countries, especially France and Britain, are likely to be key players in the anti-terrorism coalition.

This leads to the second element of Europe’s role -- military support. In this area, Europeans can provide logistical help, access to bases, over-flight rights, and special forces. Elite British and French commando units will be very useful for search and destroy missions against terrorist targets, and their governments should commit them to the fight.

The third element is intelligence cooperation. The "first war of the 21st century," as President Bush has called it, will include a large covert component. European countries can make contributions in this field, especially in terms of human intelligence.

The fourth aspect to Europe's role is the coordination of its counter-terrorism efforts with those of the Americans. This includes helping Washington identify and freeze the terrorists’ sources of financial and banking support.

In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, there was an enormous outpouring of European sympathy for the United States. Then France, Germany, and Italy began to hedge about their potential military involvement. Since then, however, these countries have started to consult with the U.S. administration about possible military contributions.

But even Britain, America's closest European ally, has indicated it will not give Washington a "blank check" for military action. This is because Europeans, understandably nervous about how the conflict will affect their security, want some say in military planning. Therefore, those European countries that actually step up to the plate militarily should be involved in decision-making during the war.

Overall, the first indications of Europe’s political and military role in the conflict are encouraging. At an emergency summit on September 21, the European Union gave a unanimous nod to a "targeted" American military response to the terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain have offered Washington military backing. Moreover, opinion polls in Europe show a strong popular appetite for joint military action with the Americans.

The key to a successful trans-Atlantic alliance against terrorism, of course, lies in its sustainability over the long haul. As the United States demonstrated to Europe during World War II and the Berlin airlift, America’s commitment to the continent’s security had no expiration date. In the struggle against terror that lies ahead, Americans will be looking to Europe for the same backbone.

Louis R. Golino is a Washington-based defense and foreign policy analyst.