>>We have proof: Howard [Australian prime minister]
Dennis Atkins, Michael Beach and James McCullough
06sep02
PRIME Minister John Howard yesterday said Australia had seen US intelligence which proved Iraq still held weapons of mass destruction, something denied by Saddam Hussein.
The US has indicated that Iraq's refusal to allow United Nations inspectors in to check this intelligence could spark an attack in the near future.
Mr Howard was speaking after US President George W. Bush accused Saddam of "stiffing" the world, and vowed to build a global coalition to oust the Iraqi dictator.
Talking tough after meeting with key congressional leaders in Washington, the President revealed he would lay out the US case against Saddam in a historic speech to the UN General-Assembly on September 12 – one day after the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America.
"I will first remind the United Nations that for 11 long years Saddam Hussein has side- stepped, crawfished, weaseled out of any agreement he had made not to develop weapons of mass destruction, agreements he's made to treat the people within his country with respect," Mr Bush said.
"And so, I am going to call upon the world to recognise that he is stiffing the world. I believe it's important for the world to deal with this man."
The dramatic toughening of rhetoric yesterday suggests the Bush administration's anti- Hussein strategy is firming, with military experts tipping a US strike between November and January.
Mr Bush committed to seeking approval from Congress before going to war, but did not lock his administration into seeking a formal declaration of war.
"At the appropriate time, this administration will go to Congress to seek approval . . . necessary to deal with the threat," he said.
Mr Howard continued to stress a diplomatic solution was preferable but he acknowledged what he called the inevitable tempo of activity surrounding US intentions in the Persian Gulf.
"We obviously have access to intelligence," Mr Howard told reporters at Amberley Air Base, west of Brisbane. "We haven't idly said that we believe Iraq has weapons of mass destruction."
Mr Howard said he did not expect anything to happen in "the very near future".
Key Government ministers believe an attack on Iraq, led by the US and Britain, is now almost inevitable with a possible launch of action within the next two months.
Previously ministers did not think the US would attack until early next year but activity in Washington in the past two weeks has led to a reappraisal.
Defence Minister Robert Hill said the probability of war was increasing.
"If the US reaches the conclusion that there is no other alternative, and it seems to be gradually heading that way . . . then it is reasonable to expect that they will seek some assistance from Australia," Senator Hill said.
Senator Hill's office also confirmed yesterday that massive Russian Antonov aircraft have been transporting Australian troops and equipment into Kuwait but denied it was part of a major military build-up in the region.
The heavy lift freighters, among the largest aircraft in the world, are capable of holding three Black Hawk helicopters plus troops.
The Antonovs have been shuttling between Darwin and Kuwait carrying staff and equipment once or twice a week for five months. <<
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