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| Europe |
| Bulgaria "eager" to help |
| 2002-12-04 |
| Hungary's dithering is Bulgaria's opportunity. A NATO member since 1999, Hungary is agonizing over how far it can support the proposed American military operation against Iraq. The problem is not so much American troops, who have in recent years become a familiar sight at the Taszar base, 100 miles south of Budapest, but civilian "employees" of the State Department. In fact they would be Iraqi exiles and dissidents, in training to act as interpreters and fill other support roles during a military campaign. Hungary's new left-of-center coalition government is dubious, fearing after initial alarmist reports that up to 5,000 Saddam-hating Iraqis were heading their way that the country could become a terrorist target. Bulgaria has been quick to step into the breach. Foreign Minister Solomon Passy has told Washington that his country was "eager" to help. But then Bulgaria has something to prove, after those embarrassing revelations that its state-owned Terem munitions plant had been illicitly exporting spare parts for Saddam Hussein's BRM and BMP armored personnel carriers. Just a little more blackmail among friends. Besides, the new Iraqi government may need some more spare parts later. Bulgaria has figured out which side it wants to be on when the smoke clears |
| Posted by:Steve |