Professors debate effects of US policy

The U.S. has taken the war in Iraq into its own hands, leaving behind all who oppose, even allies like France, Russia and Germany. What does this mean for the future of U.S. foreign relations?\nThe U.S. economy will not suffer from any severed ties with Europe or the Middle East created by the war, according to Professor Alan Rugman, L. Leslie Waters Chair in International Business in the Kelley School of Business, because the United States has a largely North American-based economy.\n"(The) U.S. does most of its trade with Canada and Mexico," Rugman said. "It can get most of its oil from North America, and it already does."\nJust as this war could deepen U.S. relations in the North American region, European countries could become closer to their own regions as well.\n"NAFTA countries operate in their home regions, more intra-regional business, the world will not become more global but increasingly intra-regional," Rugman said.\nAs far as economic status in Europe, Britain may have the upper hand. Supporting Bush at war might win Tony Blair the hot spot in the European Union economy. Most likely the leadership of typically influential countries like France and Germany will diminish, Rugman said.\nJohn McCormick, professor of political science at IUPUI, said war alliances may slow the progress of the European Union.\n"European countries have been trying to form a common foreign policy," McCormick said. "What has happened recently will slow that down quite a bit. Instead of forming together as one unit, they are forming two sides of Europe: France and Germany vs. Britain, Italy and Spain" \nWhile Europe may have to deal with a splitting union, McCormick said, the United States will have to decide if Europe and the United States continue to be on the same page.\n"What has kept Europe and U.S. together for so long is that they usually have a common sense of purpose," McCormick said. \nScott Pegg, associate professor of political science at IUPUI, said the war has eroded previous alliances.\n"President Bush took a much less multilateral approach than previous administrators," Pegg said. "Europeans have great doubts about that." \nThe United States is calling the shots and spending the money on this war, Pegg said. \n"In the previous Persian Gulf war, a lot of the battle was paid for by other countries like Germany," Pegg said. "In this war, it is all on the U.S." \nPegg said the United States should work more closely with Europe on rebuilding.\n"I think it's in our interest to have help with Iraq, to help with the burden," Pegg said.\nBush may not allow all of Europe to contribute, McCormick said.\n"Tony Blair wants to retain influence, at least keeping the ear of Bush," said McCormick. "(Unlike) France, that has irritated and annoyed Bush, so he won't even listen to them."\nAs far as ties with the Middle East, the United States made the fundamental mistake of not resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, McCormick said.\n"The Middle East will remain a dangerous part of the world, and many innocent Americans will suffer because of this," McCormick said.\nAlthough some of the Iraqi people will welcome the new democracy, McCormick said the United States should be cautious of creating an anti-American backlash.\n"My biggest concern is that we are creating more and more Osama bin Ladens," McCormick said.\nAs far as more terrorism, McCormick said he thinks the only questions are when, where and how big.\n"If the U.S. takes over the interim Iraqi government, it will be a very bad idea," McCormick said. "They've already lost its friends in the Middle East."\nPegg said he thinks a democracy in Iraq might work, as long as the United States has patience to stay and work at it for the 10 to 15 years it might take.\n"We have to not just get rid of Sadaam, we have to be involved for a long time, and the U.S. attention span might not last that long," Pegg said.