A Special Day

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A Special Day

How can one say no to Bush while expressing gratitude to America? This was the dilemma faced by many Italians during the US President's visit. It certainly was for those who have never forgotten Italy's liberation from Nazi-Fascism but to do not approve of the war in Iraq, for those who approve of the transatlantic alliance but who have somehow felt betrayed by the decisions of the present administration in Washington. Authoritative voices got round the obstacle by inviting everyone to keep yesterday's history separate from today's: Bush's visit to the site of the Ardeatine Massacre, and later to the Normandy beaches, from the most recent frictions over the American handling of the common war on terror in Iraq. It would be impossible to deny that much unease remained. But yesterday (4th june) everything unexpectedly worked out right. As Rome held its breath, George Bush kept to his programme without any hitches. He received the backing he was expecting from Silvio Berlusconi, he was warmly received by Carlo Azeglio Ciami although with a fairly clear call for multilateralism, and he appreciated John Paul II's good feelings, even though the Pope did not waiver his right to ask for rapid normalisation in Iraq, nor to bring up the subject of the horrors of torture.
On the other hand, those who wanted to march in protest were able to do so without particular incident. So, in the end, Rome was able to overcome the quandary it had been fearing: it turned out to be possible to express gratitude for America's legacy and, at the same time, those who disagree with today's policies were able to make their voices heard.
After all, was it not Bush himself, just before he started his European tour, who discovered that dissent can be constructive? Was it not he who distinguished for the first time between the Iraqi resistance and terrorists? A snapshot of an untroubled day would be somewhat out of focus if we failed to consider that not just in sixty years, but also in just one, much water has flowed under the bridges. A new draft UN resolution for Iraq is now being presented, with the secret hope of being able to push it through before the G8 in Savannah. In Washington, the formerly marginalised Colin Powell notched up a few more points against Donald Rumsfeld after the resignation of the head of the CIA. Areas of tension still remain, with the military aspects of Iraqi "sovereignty" topping the list, and fundamental disagreements about the war still unchanged: many Euro-American smiles may fade away at the end of the "multilateral June" that has just opened. But respect for the UN-backed political calendar, and the indication of December 2005 as the deadline for the presence of foreign troops in Iraq does suggest there may be a glimmer of light, however distant, at the end of the tunnel.
Much has still to be worked out on the ground, and it will not be easy. But the first test in Rome yesterday, with its lack of aggressive, mutually exclusive ideologies, might yet herald a somewhat less troubled period in transatlantic relations. One that is more respectful of the dignity of all those involved.

Franco Venturini http://www.corriere.it