WaPo: Bush threatened allies with trade reprisals for anti-war stance

The Washington Posthas a story out about a new book by a top diplomat from Chile, who was heavily involved in negotiations in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq.

He paints a picture of Bush Administration oifficials strong-arming countries to back the invasion and even threatening trade reprisals.

The rough-and-tumble diplomatic strategy has generated lasting "bitterness" and "deep mistrust" in Washington's relations with allies in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, Heraldo Mu¿oz, Chile's ambassador to the United Nations, writes in his book "A Solitary War: A Diplomat's Chronicle of the Iraq War and Its Lessons," set for publication next month.

"In the aftermath of the invasion, allies loyal to the United States were rejected, mocked and even punished" for their refusal to back a U.N. resolution authorizing military action against Saddam Hussein's government, Mu¿oz writes.

Bush didn't just send his caporegimes out to bust kneecaps. He got involved personally.

He decided he was going to make a free trade pact hostage to Chile's stubborn refusal to go along with his War of Lies.

In the days after the invasion, the National Security Council's top Latin American expert, John F. Maisto, invited Mu¿oz to the White House to convey the message to Lagos, that his country's position at the United Nations had jeopardized prospects for the speedy Senate ratification of a free-trade pact. "Chile has lost some influence," he said. "President Bush is truly disappointed with Lagos, but he is furious with Fox. With Mexico, the president feels betrayed; with Chile, frustrated and let down."

Of course, Bush couldn't even do that right.

Within a few months, he was asking for help from anybody and everybody -- including Chile -- when the mess he made in Iraq started to unfold. And the trade deal was signed.

Amazingly, there are still people who wonder why the rest of the world shakes its head at what's going on over here.