Monday, May 31, 2004
Losing Hungary
The Budapest Sun reports that Hungarian public opinion is running strongly in favor of withdrawing Hungary's troops from Iraq and the opposition Fidesz party has also called for it. The poll, finding 77% in favor of a withdrawal, was conducted before the Abu Ghraib scandal broke.
Opponents to the presence of Hungarian troops don't speak from a deep well of anti-Americanism but simply state that it seems apparent that the fight in Iraq is not linked to terrorism and that Hungary is merely supporting US interests in Iraq. This may be persuasive enough, though the government is not yet budging on its position in favor of the deployment.
Hungary is important because it stands among our more solid allies - among the more pro-American states of Eastern Europe. It is probably more representative of the region than Poland, which is regarded as the most pro-American country on the continent. If we lose a country like Hungary, efforts to internationalize the effort will be severely staggered.
One thing worth noting - Hungary has EU elections coming up. A strong verdict for the Fidesz opposition might translate into a shift on Iraq.
The Budapest Sun reports that Hungarian public opinion is running strongly in favor of withdrawing Hungary's troops from Iraq and the opposition Fidesz party has also called for it. The poll, finding 77% in favor of a withdrawal, was conducted before the Abu Ghraib scandal broke.
Opponents to the presence of Hungarian troops don't speak from a deep well of anti-Americanism but simply state that it seems apparent that the fight in Iraq is not linked to terrorism and that Hungary is merely supporting US interests in Iraq. This may be persuasive enough, though the government is not yet budging on its position in favor of the deployment.
Hungary is important because it stands among our more solid allies - among the more pro-American states of Eastern Europe. It is probably more representative of the region than Poland, which is regarded as the most pro-American country on the continent. If we lose a country like Hungary, efforts to internationalize the effort will be severely staggered.
One thing worth noting - Hungary has EU elections coming up. A strong verdict for the Fidesz opposition might translate into a shift on Iraq.
