Summit Backs NATO Help to Train Iraqi Military

Meeting at the 16th century Dromoland Castle in western Ireland on Saturday for a three-hour meeting, U.S. and EU leaders appeared to bridge the divisive rift that has plagued the transatlantic relationship ever since the Bush administration's war on Iraq last year.

In a joint statement, the United States and the European Union said the fledgling government in Baghdad "needs and deserves the strong support of the international community" if Iraq is to become a free and democratic nation. The two also pledged to help reduce Iraq's estimated $120 billion foreign debt, support the training of the Iraqi security forces as well as the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq.

The document also said it supported United Nations' help in rebuilding Iraq and setting up elections no later than Jan. 31, 2005.

The EU statement said its members "support the training and equipping of professional Iraqi security forces, capable of assuming increasing responsibility for the country's security, as requested by Prime Minister (Iyad) Allawi."

Allawi sent a letter to NATO this week requesting "urgent help" from the military alliance to train Iraqi forces "to defeat the terrorist threat and reduce reliance on foreign forces."

Burying transatlantic divisions over Iraq

The move marks a significant breakthrough in the transatlantic relationship which was badly frayed in the aftermath of the U.S.-led war on Iraq. European heavyweights France and Germany strongly opposed Bush's invasion of Iraq.

Though Washington's ties with Berlin and Paris have steadily been on the mend in recent months, in part due to looming presidential polls in the U.S. where Bush is eager to show U.S. voters and Europeans that the transatlantic relationship has recovered, Germany and France have been reluctant to see an enlarged NATO role in Iraq.

Both opposed a U.S. request to send NATO peacekeeping troops to Iraq. However, they have left the door open to training programs.

Help for beleagured Bush

The EU's written support for a NATO-led training program for Iraqi forces, though far short of the original U.S. goal of having NATO troops help with security, is likely to come as a relief to Bush as security conditions in Iraq worsen steadily days before a formal handover to an interim Iraqi government.

Bush's visit to Europe, his second this month, is aimed at mobilizing support for his mission to help Iraq, to get Europe to shoulder a bigger role in Iraq and thus lend more international credibility to U.S. efforts in Baghdad.

On Saturday, Bush, who heads to a NATO summit in Turkey next week, stressed the international community's responsibility to promote the rise of a free Iraq.

"Today, the nations of the European Union pledged their support for the new government of Iraq," he said. "NATO has the capability to help the Iraqi people defeat the terrorist threat facing their country. As Iraq moves toward the transfer of sovereignty next week, NATO, the European Union and the United States are united in our determination to help the people of that nation."

Massive security operation

Bush's visit sparked widespread protests in Ireland with between 5,000 and 10,000 people marching through Dublin on Friday night. Around 600 protested at Shannon, the airport where he landed. Traditionally past U.S. presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagen, have been honored in Ireland because of their Irish ancestry.

Many marchers vowed to cross Ireland and hold more protests near Dromoland Castle, the site of the summit. Demonstrators weren't just protesting against U.S. policies in Iraq, but also the role of the Irish government. Bertie Ahern's administration has come in for heavy domestic criticism for allowing thousands of U.S. jets to refuel at Shannon en route to the Middle East.

The area however was sealed off by around 4,000 Irish police and soldiers, making it the biggest security operation in the country's history.