Uranium controversy

The Depleted Uranium controversy focuses attention on two issues that cannot be solved by any commission. Firstly, the problem of "humanitarian wars" and the way in which they are fought.

The West intervenes to punish dictatorships and restore democracy, but doesn't think this cause can justify the death of its soldiers. Fighting is necessary but from a safe distance, with high technology weapons, whose effects aren't always known. Our safety's price is only paid by the people we are supposed to help.

Secondly, the relations between Europe and United States. More than any other country, the USA wants to win without exposing its citizens to any risks. More than anyone else it possesses advanced weapons and is prepared to experiment their use, especially if the battlefield is on another continent.

These wars start as an international effort but end up being American wars -- the USA is too strong, proud, isolationist and public opinion conditioned to show it has to rely on others.

To hope that some NATO meeting can persuade the USA to change is useless. Europe must understand, that however important the euro may be, it will never be a flag, an army or a policy.

-- Corriere della Sera, Milan, Italy