Rumsfeld raps opposition to Iraq war

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Given a forum Wednesday to bridge the American-German rift over Iraq, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld instead suggested Western European nations lacked vision when they opposed the military campaign against Saddam Hussein.

He also criticized a Belgian war crimes law.

Stopping in Germany on his way to a NATO meeting in Brussels, Rumsfeld said allies should be able to work together despite occasional disagreements. Then he went on to highlight contributions made in the global war on terror by Eastern European nations, mentioning none of those by France and Germany, the main opponents of the Iraq conflict.

"Even as they are busy looking inward and rebuilding their economies and societies, they have had the vision to look outward as well," he said of the smaller, former communist nations.

"It suggests that the distinction between old and new in Europe today is really not a matter of age or size or even geography," Rumsfeld said. "It is really a matter of attitude -- of the vision that countries bring to the trans-Atlantic relationship."

Before the war, Rumsfeld caused an uproar in Europe when he dismissed objections by France and Germany by referring to them as "old Europe" and suggesting the axis of power in Europe is shifting to the east.

Rumsfeld made Wednesday's comments during ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of a joint U.S.-German venture, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Appearing as keynote speakers, Rumsfeld and his German counterpart, Peter Struck, both said the two longtime allies should work to overcome their differences.

"Occasional discussions and irritations over specific political issues do not alter anything," Struck said. "Sure, our views differed over the Iraq issue. But a friendship like ours can take that. We are now looking ahead."

Said Rumsfeld, "Like a family, from time to time we don't agree on everything."

But he went on to say that "many of the nations with fresh memories of tyranny and occupation have been among the most willing to face the new threats and contribute to dealing with them."

He noted that Poland wants to contribute in Iraq, Romania helped in Afghanistan and Albania is helping in both.

He didn't mention that Germany, his host Wednesday, has lead an international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. And France sent thousands of troops to Afghanistan and the surrounding region.

The Marshall center was founded in 1993 to stabilize and strengthen post-Cold War Europe by educating and training military and civilian officials.

Rumsfeld's comments Wednesday stood in contrast to those made at press conferences Tuesday, when he spent the entire day thanking nations that had supported the war.

He traveled to Portugal and Albania, meeting with officials and holding joint press conferences in a highly public show of gratitude for their support against Saddam.

Rumsfeld also criticized a Belgian law under which the U.S. commander of the Iraq campaign, Army Gen. Tommy Franks, has been sued.

He called it a "dangerous law which has turned Belgium's legal system into a platform for divisive, politicized lawsuits against her NATO allies."

The law was first used to target suspects in Rwanda's 1994 genocide who fled to Belgium and claims the right to prosecute war crimes anywhere by anyone.

Rumsfeld on Thursday attends a NATO meeting, where ministers of the alliance's 19 nations are to talk about restructuring its command components, establishing a rapid reaction force and upgrading capabilities of European militaries.

They also will talk about helping Poland lead peacekeeping efforts in Iraq.