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"Europe's 'Moral Outrage' December 1, 2005

"Europe is enthralled by another American "torture scandal." Governments demandthe truth behind allegations, first made by the Washington Post last month, thatthe CIA has operated covert prisons in Europe and secretly transported terrorist suspects through European airports. Human Rights Watch claims to have located the prisons in "New Europe" -- Poland and Romania. The outrage on the Continent is deafening. Franco Frattini, the normallylevel-headed European Commissioner for Justice, threatened "serious consequences," including the unprecedented "suspension of voting rights" in theEuropean Union for the Poles and Romanians if the allegations prove true. After all, "European values" would have been violated. It is difficult to comment on the substance of the allegations because there isn't much substance at the moment. Both the Romanian and Polish governments have denied the reports, while Washington promised to look into the case. So forthe time being, there are only allegations and a lot of moral outrage. That moral posturing, though, deserves a closer look. We'd be the first to applaud Europeans for finally concerning themselves with moral principles instead of commercial interests. Many of the Middle East's problems, including terrorism, would be easier solved if Europe were seriously concerned about morality. Europe would no longer be Iran's No. 1 trading partner, and its companies wouldn't be able to attend trade fairs in Sudan anymore. Unlike American companies -- recently defamed in Germany as "(blood) suckers"and "locusts" by the former government -- European firms are quite busy in Sudan. The chamber of commerce and industry in Stuttgart has enthused over whatgreat opportunities Sudan's oil resources offer to German companies. Lest people think they are doing something morally reprehensible, the salesmen from Stuttgart prefer to describe the massacres of black Africans in Darfur as"political disturbances." The German economics ministry, which sponsored the German pavilion at last February's trade fair in Sudan, will also support next February's event, the chamber of commerce assures its members. Where is the outrage? How does that jibe with supposed European values?"