from Iraq and 21st Century Liberation Theology:

In the U.S. debate over Iraq, most European nations have been criticized as bystanders or even obstacles in the effort to liberate Iraq. They were cast as uncaring, callous, timid — or all of the above.

In hindsight, though, the Europeans feel vindicated — primarily because they apparently absorbed some valuable lessons about the tricky "liberation" issue over the past 50 years.