Bush's window of opportunity

10.19.05am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 18th Feb 2005

Graham Watson, commenting on George W. Bush's visit to Brussels next week, says he has a golden opportunity to make a fresh start and work with the European allies rather than against them.

"Americans and Europeans share in common a detestation for the world's most tyrannical regimes. Most would probably agree that the Burmese military junta, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe or Cuba's Fidel Castro are every bit as objectionable to our beliefs in open, liberal democracy as Saddam Hussein. The major difference between the Bush I Administration and the view of most Europeans is that the ends do not justify the means. When we refer to 'regime change' we think more of the examples such as Turkey or Ukraine. Bush II Administration now has the chance to chart a different course and achieve common objectives together", said Watson.

The positive noises now emanating from the White House on strengthened multilateralism and a rekindling of the transatlantic relationship need to be nurtured. There is now a window of opportunity opening up for America and Europe to identify common goals and common means to pursue them. "The EU-US role is often caricatured as a 'good cop, bad cop' approach to international relations. I would hope that in the future the Americans can place more emphasis on the force of argument than the argument of force whilst the Europeans strengthen their resolve to take a tough and principled stand against bad regimes", he added.