Bush is an IDIOT! Bush: U2 Flights Needed Because Iraq Not Disarming -3
10 Feb 18:47
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. President George W. Bush dismissed Baghdad's
agreement to allow U-2 surveillance flights over Iraq saying they were needed
in the first place because Iraq isn't disarming.
On a related matter, Bush also said that France, Germany and Belgium were
hurting the NATO alliance by refusing to allow discussion of efforts to help
protect Turkey in the case of a war with Iraq. Bush singled out France for
special criticism saying he doesn't "understand" the position that French
President Jacques Chirac has staked out.
Bush made his comments just before a meeting with Australian Prime Minister
John Howard.
On Iraq, Bush repeated his position that Iraq is only making minor
concessions now because it suits Saddam Hussein.
"Iraq needs to disarm and the reason why we even need to fly U-2 flights is
because they are not disarming," Bush said.
"This is a man who is trying to stall for time. He is trying to play a
diplomatic game," he added.
Bush again poured scorn on the idea that the U.N. doesn't have enough
inspectors in Iraq and said that if Baghdad wanted to cooperate, even one or
two inspectors would be enough to get the job done.
Turning to the fact that France, Germany and Belgium have blocked NATO aid
for Turkey, Bush focused on France's role in the process.
"I am disappointed that France would block NATO from helping a country like
Turkey prepare. I don't understand that decision. It affects the alliance in a
negative way," Bush said.
Bush said he will try to work with France "the best we can" but added he
thought France was being "short-sighted."
In addition to working with Germany and Belgium to block NATO, France is also
working with Germany and Russia to urge that weapons inspectors in Iraq be
given more time.
"Australia's position concerning Iraq is very clear," Howard said. "We
believe a world in which weapons of mass destruction are in the hands of rogue
states and which would lead to them falling into the hands of terrorists is not
a world that Australia, if we can possibly avoided, wants to be a part of."
Howard added he hoped Saddam would disarm peacefully, but said he considered
that an "unlikelihood."
-By Alex Keto, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9256; Alex.Keto@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-10-03 1847ET |
