MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld failed Sunday to convince Europeans that NATO should take on a leading role in Iraq, the Times of London said.
The Munich Security Conference, attended by 50 NATO and non-NATO ministers, was supposed to patch up quarrels within the alliance. Instead, it was highlighted by a verbal duel between Rumsfeld and German Foreign Miniser Joschka Fischer.
Fischer infuriated the Americans by declaring Germany had been proven right to stay out of the war and would, under the present government, never send troops there. He said Germany would not block a NATO consensus, but insisted there be a full discussion about whether or not NATO needed to be in the region at all.
"I cannot conceal my deep skepticism," he said.
Rumsfeld made clear he wants NATO troops to replace Polish and Spanish contingents.
"It has been suggested this morning," he said, "that there is a need for a common strategy."
Rumsfeld insisted, however, there already was one, with 17 of NATO's allies and invited guests already having forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
