United States and Europe and the Neo-Wilsonian revolution in the post-Iraq war international order

Abstract

Every attempt to discuss American-European relations without taking the war in Iraq into account is doomed to fail. Analysts who exclude Iraq or insist that the Americans have already lost do not understand how much is at stake. An early withdrawal of the USA will boost international terrorism around the globe. I would even go so far as to argue that the nature of the future international order will be determined by the outcome of the Iraq war. It is in Iraq, therefore, that the shape of the future world order is determined. This is exactly the reason why French, German and Russian policy makers are so nervous. They know very well that a policy of blunt anti-americanism will not serve their long term interests in the Middle East as well as elsewhere. Still, domestic reasons force them to endorse heavy handed policies.