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Schroeder warns U.S. against 'adventurism'

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS APRIL 11. The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, on Thursday warned the Bush Administration in the United States against attacking the so-called "axis of evil" countries, after the apparent success of its war in Iraq to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Schroeder said in a television interview: "I warn against such repetition'' and indirectly criticised the U.S. politicians who have suggested that Syria and Iran could be the future targets of the U.S. military. He said he saw "no new grounds'' for war and stated that one should be wary of such matters. The Chancellor, along with the French and Russian Presidents, has consistently criticised the U.S. for its "war option" approach to Iraq.

There is also the controversy over the contracts to rebuild Iraq's shattered economic and logistical infrastructure. These contracts are worth billions of dollars and a vast chunk of them will be awarded to American companies, which are well-connected to the Bush Administration.

According to media reports, British companies may get about 20 per cent of the contracts while European firms may be awarded either nothing or very little. Mr. Schroeder described this issue as a little "macabre", particularly the discussion on "who should receive which contracts and when''. He said Germany would take part in Iraq's reconstruction only if the project was carried out under the auspices of the United Nations.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin and the French President, Jacques Chirac, have also expressed similar sentiments. All this could trigger a new crisis with the U.S., although all three countries are keen to mend their diplomatic fences it. It is widely assumed that Iraq's vast oil revenues will be utilised to pay for these contracts.

According to diplomatic observers, the summit of French, German and Russian Government leaders in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, may pave the way for reconciliation with the Bush Administration. The summit was planned before the fall of Baghdad and was intended to seal the so-called "anti-war alliance'' which has the support of most European, Asian and African countries. There has been a change in the stance of the "alliance'' with the dramatic fall of Baghdad.

The Europeans also feel that the Bush Administration's military success may prompt centre-right political leaders in the U.S. to embark on another adventure to attack Syria or Iran on the pretext of fighting the global war against terrorism.

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