Europeans shocked at U.S. exclusion

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. decision to exclude, France, Germany and Russia from contracts in Iraq brought expressions of shock Wednesday from top European officials.

Speaking not for attribution pending his government's official reaction, one official from the nations that had been barred said, "It will be a miracle if our leaders don't link this decision to the Iraqi debt-relief issue."

European officials pointed out that former Secretary of State James Baker III was appointed earlier this week to negotiate Iraqi debt relief with Russia, France and Germany.

"How can Secretary Baker negotiate debt relief when the Pentagon pulls the rug from under him?" asked one German official.

Germany had informed the Bush administration it was willing to approve generous debt relief for Iraq. The fear now is that the Bunderstag will establish a link between debt relief and Germany's exclusion from the Iraqi bidding process.

France, the German officials said, will now be saying to Berlin, "I told you so. The Americans are not interested in our cooperation."