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Coughlin, Con
3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
In the USA, Brown lives in Blair's shadow
"Mr Brown is a long way from winning the battle for American hearts and minds,” writes columnist Con Coughlin on British PM Gordon Brown's three-day visit to the USA which started April 15th. "Under Mr Blair, Britain was a key ally in prosecuting the war against terrorism... . Mr Brown appears incapable of providing the clear and incisive leadership necessary for achieving success. Not surprisingly Mr Brown faced some sharp questions yesterday from American media commentators... . The New York Times yesterday went so far as to suggest that Mr Brown's Basra policy threatened the future of Britain's position as America's closest post-War ally. ... Given the amount of political capital Tony Blair invested in both the transatlantic alliance and in Iraq, it is hard to imagine Britain's military involvement being reduced to such a sorry state if he were still prime minister."
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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » United Kingdom, » U.S.
NATO's expansion
"The Taliban must be rubbing their hands with glee. With the new fighting season about to begin in earnest in Afghanistan, the West shows no sign of resolving the deep divisions that have severely hampered its attempts to rebuild the country," writes Con Coughlin. "Hardly had George W. Bush set out his compelling arguments in favour of extending the organisation's reach into southern and eastern Europe than other member states were ganging up to frustrate his ambitions. The American position is simplicity itself. NATO won the Cold War and therefore NATO should enjoy the spoils of victory. ... The concerns of the Germans, French and Greeks about Nato expansion might carry more force if they were pulling their weight where it really counts - trying to defeat the Taliban... . NATO may have won the Cold War but, at this rate, it will be a long time before it proclaims victory in Afghanistan."
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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe
A new defence policy for Europe?
Journalist Con Coughlin takes a sceptical view of Sarkozy's promise to provide the extra 1,000 troops that are desperately needed by Nato in Afghanistan. "Ever since Charles de Gaulle withdrew French forces from Nato command in 1966, the French position has been that any military deployment that France undertakes abroad must be conducted under French command. ... If Mr Sarkozy really is serious about bolstering France's military commitment to Afghanistan, he will do so only on France's terms. ... Suddenly, Mr Sarkozy's grand gesture does not look quite so grand after all. Nato might be desperate for more combat troops, but not at any price. Nor is there any suggestion that French troops will actually be involved in combat operations, even if the deployment goes ahead. At present, the 1,500 French troops in Afghanistan are nowhere near the main area of action, where the thankless task of trying to subjugate the Taliban has been left to the British, American, Canadian, Dutch and Danish troops... ."
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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » France, » United Kingdom
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