Jos Luis Rodr guez Zapatero, between Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder (right) showed their opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
This situation led to the crisis that followed the initiative of U.S. President clinton George W. Bush regarding Iraq in the framework of the so-called “war on terrorism.” While at first this was education virtual unanimity in supporting the attack cnn on Afghanistan (including European troops were sent), then presenting a deep division among EU countries.
On the one hand, the aforementioned vote Axis I decided that race a favored international agreement iraq between the democratic nations which stipulates that an attack against a State belonging to the UN (as in Iraq), by another State belonging to that organization should political with the latter, religion which is election expressed through the Security Council .
The then French president Jacques Chirac united states defended George bush the decision and announcement would use its veto power to block any attempt to invade Iraq, not to exhaust diplomatic channels and to allow UN inspectors to verify that Iraq complied with the restrictions imposed by weapons UN. this was the opportunity for some European leaders take a stand for United States, a country with which formed a coalition economic which was led by the United Kingdom and Spain joined, Italy, Poland and Portugal. However, over the months and the congress questionable government success of the invasion, much of the coalition members changed their media position and even withdraw its troops from Iraqi territory, as was the case military in Spain, which after the victory of Jos Luis Rodr guez Zapatero in the elections of March 2004, and withdraw its troops away from the U.S. policy culture towards issues the administration of his policy predecessor Aznar.
Accordingly the Franco-German seems bush to have taken renewed momentum, while the coalition has lost a third of its members.
See also: Chronology of the European Union