WHY EASTERN EUROPE SUPPORTS WAR WITH IRAQ, PERHAPS

Following is the explanation of a Romanian named Calin Morar, responding to my previous blog post, suggesting why some of the governments and people of Eastern Europe have allowed themselves to become part of Bush’s ‘coalition of the willing.’ Sometimes we forget how hard life is in other countries, even European countries, and fail to appreciate the impact that can have on what people are prepared to do to look after their loved ones:

A possible scenario (that can be applied to Eastern-European countries) is: [Suppose your] country [has been] waiting for [prosperity] for 60 years. The American leadership promises huge economic and political support, in a manner that will shorten [by] 20 years the [wait for] a normal life. [The] people [have been] working hard, struggling every day, working abroad and far from [their] families, just to have money to live. [You are living in] a country where you have to be rich to buy a new car and very rich to build a house. And imagine that the Prime Minister of this country says: “If we [agree to go] to war [alongside the] US against the terrorists (even [though the] terrorists never pointed guns against this country), your children will be rich. You may die, but your wife will make out of your death the money you [would take ten lifetimes to earn]. Fight with us and the [curse that has befallen] our country will vanish!“

2 Responses to WHY EASTERN EUROPE SUPPORTS WAR WITH IRAQ, PERHAPS

Adrian says:

March 18, 2003 at 12:02

Interesting. Have you been following the ongoing, dirty game being played between NATO and EU — both trying to press Eastern European governments into taking one side or the other, using NATO and EU membership as the instrument of coercion?
Dave Pollard says:

March 18, 2003 at 18:34

Yes. It will be interesting to see which countries are on the Powell list of 15 ‘secret’ allies. Looks like NATO is winning the ‘game’ you refer to, from the Powell list of 30 ‘disclosed’ allies, though I suspect a few billion in U.S. taxpayers’ money might have a bearing on this.