[European Leaders Urge Caution on Bush's War on Terrorism]
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
independent.co.uk.
02 February 2002
Jack Straw, the Foreign
Secretary, and other senior
European leaders urged America
yesterday to be cautious in
expanding its war against terror.
They strongly signalled that, in
the absence of "serious
evidence", they would not
automatically back an attack on
Iraq, Iran or another country
suspected of sponsoring
terrorism.
Mr Straw, on a visit to
Washington in which he met
Vice-President Dick Cheney and
other top administration officials,
said he expected the US to be
"careful and proportionate" in its
future steps.
Addressing the World Economic Forum in New York, Lord
Robertson of Port Ellen, the Nato secretary general, went
further, saying America had failed to produce any compelling
evidence for unleashing its military might against Iraq.
Their remarks, and others in similar vein by the French Foreign
Minister, Hubert Vedrine, are a sign of the international unease
at the bellicose tone of Mr Bush in his State of the Union
address this week. The President spoke of an "axis of evil,"
comprising Iraq, Iran, North Korea and leading terrorist groups
- and hinted he was ready to take pre-emptive action against
them.
Lord Robertson noted that when Nato threw its weight behind
the US after the attacks, invoking Article Five of its founding
treaty, which says an attack on one member is an attack on
all, its step applied specifically to 11 September.
The Foreign Secretary said military action should only be taken
after evidence had been produced and everyone said there was
no alternative.
Mr Straw said Britain would continue to work with the reformist
element in Tehran led by President Mohammad Khatami. But,
he added, Britain was as worried as America about the
unelected clerical leadership that had ultimate power in the
Islamic republic.
Also from the Americas section.
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