Bush to Seek European Support in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&ncid=716&e=1&u=/ap/20040625/ap_on_re_eu/bush

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The next five days are all about summitry — the U.S.-European Union (news - web sites) summit this weekend in Ireland and the NATO summit in Turkey next week. Allied leaders are expressing a new willingness to help in Iraq, although not at the levels once anticipated.


EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten told reporters shortly after Bush arrived here on Friday that persistent violence could cause Iraq to unravel.


"All of us in the international community are worried that the violence directed against moderate leadership in each of the communities and directed against attempts at long-term, sustainable reconstruction ... could lead to Iraq flying apart in the next few months," Patten said. He added that while the EU is "absolutely determined" to help reconstruct Iraq and ensure that elections are held, violence could derail those goals.


Some European leaders worry that they will lose political capital back home if they appear too cozy with Bush.