The Iraqi crisis, after the speech of President Bush on the “turning point” represented by the imminent handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis and the new Resolution of the UN Security Council, now under discussion, continues to monopolise the attention of the international press. “Bush seeks the transition in Iraq”, is the headline carried for instance by La Croix of 26/5, in an article in which it is reported that “the US President has confirmed the date of 30 June for the transfer of sovereignty to an Iraqi government and the maintenance of American troops in the country for at least a year”. “Bush is seeking a way out”, is the comment of Bruno Frappat in his editorial, in which he places the emphasis on the “American need for an honourable proposal” to put an end to the Iraqi question and counter the “front” of the countries that “oppose this war”, such as France, Germany, China and Russia. Le Monde of 27/5 dedicates a dossier to what it calls the “new mercenaries” in Iraq. “Used by private companies under contract with the Pentagon says the summary of the investigation there are between 15,000 and 20,000 of them on Iraqi soil. Their work is crucial for the American mission. The war is being privatised, but its rules are fluctuating”. “Iraq is a goldmine”, declares one of the managers of these companies: “ the margin of benefit is incredibly higher than the risk”. “Bush’s ‘post Iraq’ strategy leaves the USA lukewarm”, is the headline carried by the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire (26/5), in an article commenting on the American President’s speech to the nation: “Bush repeated to the nation that America is on the right road: a position that the majority of Americans don’t share”. The debate on the “Christian roots” of Europe also interests American public opinion, at least to judge from the front-page article signed by Elain Sciolino in the Herald Tribune (26/5): “While the Europeans cavil about the final draft of their first constitution, they are tormented by a three-letter word: God”, comments Sciolini, who adds: “It seems clear that France will not yield to the new pressure to insert religion in the draft, insisting that the constitution ought to be ‘secular’. But with the entrance into the Union this month of 10 new members, most of them predominantly Catholic, the positions have been polarized”. There are numerous comments in the German press on the election of the new President of the Republic, the Christian-Democrat Horst Köhler, former Director General of the International Monetary Fund. His inaugural speech caused a sensation by its patriotic tone Köhler said he loves Germany and by concluding with the words “God bless our country”. “ Only now, fifteen years after reunification, is the political consciousness of the Germans beginning to achieve an historic qualitative breakthrough“, comments Eckhard Fuhr (26/5). “ For a long time, Germans have taken the road to the West as an escape from themselves and for fear of themselves. Now they’ve got there and have the chance to examine the historical legacy that oppressed them. The new President comes from a forgotten region of Eastern Germany. He is an expert in political and economic globalization. He speaks of love for his country without embarrassment. Evidently the time had come”. Of another view is the Frankfurter Rundschau (26/5): “ References to God and to the fatherland, cannot be the antidote to the decline of social solidarity, still less to the unjust world order“, writes Knut Pries. The weekly Der Spiegel (24/5), on the other hand, dedicates its cover story to the war in Iraq, with a reportage on the situation of petroleum. “ The source of the war“, is the magazine’s headline to a series of articles. “ Oil is becoming ever more expensive, the explosion of the oil price is oppressing the economic situation and the stock markets. The blame lies with the war in Iraq, the fear of terrorism and speculators. The lubricant of the engine of growth is not yet in decline, but the energy hunger is growing. And the struggle to get hold of the last reserves is becoming all the fiercer“. In Spain, lastly, the two dailies El Pais and El Mundo, in their online editions of 27/05, focus their own attention on the news that “ the commission of inquiry into the terrorist attacks in Madrid of 11 March will begin its activities after the European elections“. On www.elmundo.es it is explained that “ the congress has set up the commission of inquiry, but it will only formally begin its work after the European elections. In accordance with the deadline approved by all political groups, the commission will present its conclusions to the plenary session before the end of July. As chairman of the commission, Paulino Rivero has announced that the work “will not be extended in time” and, for this reason, by applying a ‘very tight’ calendar, the objective should be reached within the deadline laid down, or even in advance of it. As regards its remit, Rivero explained that the commission will in no case ‘probe the injuries and grief’ of the victims of 11 March, but will try to ‘tranquillize’ citizens and reassure them that new massacres will be prevented“. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1300 N.ro relativo : 40 Data pubblicazione : 29/05/04
