The President is surprised by the lack of European support for military action against Iran—he shouldn’t be

The scars of the Iraq War run deep in Europe. At the time, France, led by President Jacques Chirac, could not countenance supporting an attack on Saddam Hussein, given the weak evidence for either weapons of mass destruction or a link to the horrors of 9/11. When the Spanish prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, agreed to back President George W. Bush there was a popular backlash. Tony Blair, the then U.K. leader, still suffers under the “Bliar” tag. 

In America, there might be bafflement that European leaders are not fully behind the actions of President Donald Trump and the attack on Iran in alliance with Israel. In war you stick with your allies. A grotesque dictator has been removed. There is a chance—slim maybe—that Iran will see a more positive future. 

In 2003, Blair said there was no option but to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the U.S. Many in Europe agreed—in 2000, 82% of Britons and 62% of the French were “favorable” towards the US. The Western global agreement was strong, politically and economically. America had secured western Europe after the Second World War and there was much to be grateful for. Trade flowed between the two power blocs of the world. 

History and populations have changed. Younger voters know far less of either the Second World War or the Cold War. The U.S. is now seen “unfavorably” in Britain, France,........

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