Oh, you have been so right about how masterful conservatives are........I just was going over the coalition of nations. How could I have ever doubted Bush.
I mean he managed to pull in Azerbaijian and Uzbekistan; that's simply brilliant; and he also got El Savador and Nicaragua to go along.......my God, what a coup......never in a million years would have I guessed he could pull that one off; and then there's the three Baltic nations.......I understand the Lithuania army is huge, massive and so well equipped, they put the US Army to shame, but the coup de gra is Eritrea.......I don't know where the country is....probably some island in the Pacific that won't be around in ten years thanks to global warming; however, I know it took extraordinary diplomatic skills to get them on board.
What a fukking joke! This is the best the GOP can do? My God, I can't believe the time I've spent on this thread listening to you wax on about the brilliance of conservatives and the stupidity of liberals. What did you say your IQ was? By chance, did you have the read out tipped upside down and the real number is 041?
Don't even think about telling me how ridiculous Clinton was........he was a genius compared to this crap. And this administration is taking us into war........God help us!
ted
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thescotsman.co.uk
US claims 30 nations join coalition of the willing
PAUL GALLAGHER
AUSTRALIA and Poland pledged to join the invasion of Iraq yesterday as divisions deepened in the international community over imminent conflict in the Gulf.
With war a matter of hours away, political leaders across the globe clamoured to declare their stance on the crisis.
The United States claimed there were 30 nations signed up to the "coalition of the willing" that were prepared to use military force against Iraq and a further 15 who broadly support the US and British stance.
The French president, Jacques Chirac continued to lead international condemnation of military action, saying it would represent the "use of force over law". However, the French ambassador in Washington, later said that France would enter a war against Iraq if Saddam Hussein used biological or chemical weapons against the US-led invasion force.
Germany, Russia, China and Indonesia also issued statements opposing the ultimatum from President George Bush to Saddam, requiring him to leave Iraq by tonight or face removal by force.
The announcement that Australia is to commit its 2,000 troops in the Gulf area to action in Iraq came after President Bush contacted the Australian prime minister, John Howard.
Mr Howard, who faces strong anti-war opposition within his country, said: "I believe very strongly the position the government has taken is right."
His intervention means that almost the entire 257,000-strong military force set to invade Iraq will come from the three English-speaking nations - the US, Britain and Australia.
Poland said yesterday that it would provide soldiers for the conflict but it will contribute only a token 200 troops.
In contrast, the invading force assembled for the Gulf conflict in 1991 was made up of troops and personnel from 28 nations, including France and Syria.
Despite the narrow base of military support, Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, said yesterday that more nations were providing other means of support.
The "coalition of the willing" includes five Eastern European nations that have agreed to send non-combat specialists in chemical and biological warfare to support the troops in the Gulf and more than a dozen other countries that have allowed US warplanes to use their airspace or territories to launch an attack.
Mr Powell said the foreign ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands had given their backing to an attack on Iraq. Denmark is considering the deployment of a small number of military support staff to the Gulf.
Turkey was also among the 30 states named in the coalition list issued by the US State Department. The US still hopes that Turkey will allow its territory to be used by troops for an invasion of northern Iraq.
Japan has declared itself a "post conflict" member of the coalition. It is not permitted by its own constitution to join any military action but backs its aims. "It was a decision that had to be made," the prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, said. "We support the US position."
Despite the late additions to the alliance against Iraq, the military action will go ahead in the face of formidable international opposition.
President Chirac, whose threat to wield the French veto was blamed by Britain and the US for scuppering the chances of a United Nations settlement, restated his objections yesterday. "I am deeply moved by the fact that I know my attitude is shared by the overwhelming majority of our people, and also by the majority of the UN security council and the world’s peoples", he said.
He said the US was taking on a "heavy responsibility" with its ultimatum to Saddam.
However, Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador in Washington, later said Iraqi use of biological or chemical weapons would change France’s position. He said: "President Chirac will have to decide what we will do to help the American troops to confront this new situation."
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, outlined his opposition to military action in a telephone call to President Bush and there were strong anti-war statements from China, Indonesia, Germany and the Vatican.
Many Asian nations have tried to sit on the fence with the Philippines, Thailand, India and Pakistan all avoiding a full declaration of their positions.
Mexico, whose refusal to reveal its voting intentions on the UN security council last week led to intensive lobbying from the US and France, finally showed its hand yesterday and said it opposed the use of force.
Professor David Capitanchik, a lecturer in international relations at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University, said the various declarations were being made with one eye on the post-conflict scenario. He said: "The United States will remember those nations who give their support. While there is appreciation of Australian and Polish troops, it is only a token gesture.
"The real debt is to nations such as Kuwait which have made a more important contribution. Without Kuwaiti permission to station troops on their soil it would be very difficult to mount an invasion."
Mr Capitanchik added: "The fact that the matter never went to another vote at the United Nations has let nations such as Mexico and Pakistan off the hook. They did not want to be seen lining up behind a French veto but now it is not so important what they believe.
"When the dust settles, it will be the French attitude which will still trouble Washington. Opposition from Russia and China is not taken seriously because of their records in international affairs but France is a European democracy.
"France has attempted to establish itself as the leader of an alternative power to America and my own view is that it will have no success."
THOSE IN SUPPORT AND THOSE AGAINST
COALITION OF THE WILLING:
Armed alliance preparing for invasion: United States (permanent member of UN Security Council): 235,000 troops; United Kingdom: (permanent member of Security Council) 45,000 military personnel; Australia: 2,000 troops; Poland: 200 troops.
Unarmed support in the Gulf: Bulgaria (elected member of Security Council) - 150 chemical warfare experts; Czech Republic - chemical and biological warfare specialists; Romania - non-combat personnel; Slovakia/Ukraine - chemical experts.
Permission for use of military bases/airspace: Bahrain; Kuwait; Qatar; Croatia; Spain (Security Council); Jordan; Italy; Portugal; United Arab Emirates; Ireland; Turkey.
Other supporters of war: Israel; Canada; Japan (post-conflict support); South Korea; Denmark; Netherlands; Afghanistan; Albania; Azerbaijan; Colombia; El Salvador; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; Georgia; Hungary; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia; Nicaragua; Philippines; Uzbekistan.
THE UNWILLING:
France (permanent Member, Security Council) - said it would have used veto.
Russia; China (permanent members of UN Security Council) - would probably have abstained.
Others who have declared opposition: Germany (elected member of Security Council); Belgium; South Africa; Canada; New Zealand; Switzerland; Greece; Iran; Sudan; Lebanon; Indonesia; Malaysia; Mexico (elected to Security Council); Saudi Arabia; The Vatican; Syria (elected to Security Council).
NO CLEAR DECLARATION
Pakistan (elected to Security Council); Angola (elected to Security Council); Chile (elected to Security Council); Cameroon (elected to Security Council); Guinea (elected to Security Council); Thailand; India. |
