Europe remains defiant

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
BERLIN -- While Tuesday's mandate gave President Bush all the congressional support he needs to pursue the Iraq war, European backing won't increase, and may sharply decrease, in his second term.
European leaders made it clear that the election didn't change their attitudes toward the war.
"We have made our position clear throughout the campaign, and it is unchanged: Germany will not be sending troops to Iraq," a German Foreign Ministry representative said.
There was also bad news for Bush from supporters. Hungary announced Tuesday that its 300 troops will be out of Iraq by the end of March. Others aren't far behind. In Ukraine, both presidential candidates have pledged to withdraw troops in early 2005. Polish officials have announced that their troops will leave after January's parliamentary elections in Iraq.