US says protesters strengthen Saddam
By Edward Alden in Washington, James Blitz in London and Jo Johnson in Paris
Published: February 16 2003 21:45 | Last Updated: February 16 2003 21:45
us iraq
The US on Sunday dismissed millions of anti-war protesters around the world and European-led efforts to delay a conflict with Iraq, saying they strengthened Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, and made war more rather than less likely.
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Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush's top foreign policy aide, said a US decision on whether to launch an attack remained "a matter of weeks, not months". The national security adviser said on NBC that European calls for a delay "play into the hands of Saddam Hussein".
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She said: "It is time for this to end, enough is enough." She warned that if the pressure on Iraq to disarm was eased, "I can assure you we are not going to get to a peaceful solution".
Tony Blair, the British prime minister and Washington's closest ally, made clear he was determined to press ahead with his strategy of confronting Iraq on its weapons of mass destruction, despite setbacks at the United Nations and closer to home.
Mr Blair, who on Monday travels to Brussels for an emergency European Union summit, after a weekend in which London experienced its largest ever anti-war demonstration, said his government would come through the crisis "by holding firm to what we believe in".
Downing Street officials said on Sunday night that no firm decision had yet been taken on when the US and UK would table a second Security Council resolution on disarming Iraq. Some officials said, however, that discussions on a new resolution were likely to pick up in the run-up to the next report to the UN by Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector, probably on February 28.
French President Jacques Chirac and Dominique de Villepin, his foreign minister, whose speech last Friday arguing that war was not yet justified, was applauded by UN Security Council members, go to the EU summit determined to recreate a common European position favouring more time for inspections.
Mr de Villepin, who has refused to rule out using France's veto in the Security Council to brake what Paris sees as a US rush to war, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that Paris opposed a new resolution as long as inspections were continuing.
"This resolution sets no deadline. As long as the inspectors on the ground can show us new progress, there are no grounds for changing course," he said.
Ms Rice on Sunday continued to escalate a transatlantic war of words, accusing Europe of a long history of "appeasement", saying the only way to disarm a "tyrant" like Mr Hussein peacefully was to maintain tough, united international pressure. "The world needs to pull itself back together here."
The split over Iraq has fuelled broader American anger against Europe. John McCain, Republican senator and former presidential candidate, said on Sunday that the argument would create a lasting rift in relations between the US and France. "The French remind me of an ageing actress from the 1940s who is still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it."
On Sunday night Nato agreed a deal over planning for the defence of Turkey in the event of a US-led war against Iraq after hours of wrangling in a committee where France, which had blocked the move, has no seat.
The alliance's credibility had been damaged by the month-long deadlock, during which France had been supported by Germany and Belgium. The row had been prompted by fears that such a decision would constitute a step towards war.
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