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Politics : The Donkey's Inn -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mephisto who wrote (2712)	2/7/2002 7:47:58 PM
From: Mephisto	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 15516

US says it will act to overthrow Saddam "Pouring scorn on the notion of an "axis of evil", the French Foreign Minister, Hubert Védrine, openly criticised "simplistic" American foreign policy. Saudi Arabia, whose bases would be essential for an invasion of Iraq, also signalled its opposition." independent co.uk By Rupert Cornwell and David Usborne 07 February 2002 In a major policy shift, the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, declared yesterday that there should be a "regime change" in Iraq and that Washington was prepared to pursue that goal alone if necessary. America is spoiling as never before for action to settle its unfinished business with Iraq, the country singled out by President George Bush as the most menacing member of his "axis of evil". Whatever he means, and whatever the obstacles, the name of the game is clear – "regime change". But just how this will be achieved remains clouded in uncertainty. General Powell told Congress that Mr Bush was considering "a full range of options". Charles Duelfer, a former deputy chairman of the UN weapons inspectors and a leading Iraq specialist, said: "They've taken the decision that the Iraq problem has to be solved, not managed, and there's certainly an inclination to do this militarily. But the details still have to be worked out." Various scenarios are being floated, from fomenting internal opposition to Saddam Hussein, to striking Iraqi installations or even dispatching 100,000 or more US troops to complete the job left unfinished in 1991. General Powell told Congress: "We believe strongly in regime change in Iraq and look forward to the day when a democratic, representative government leads Iraq to rejoin the family of nations." In an admission of the lack of international backing for the overthrow of Mr Hussein, he suggested the US "might have to do it alone". And he had a curt answer to Iraq's offer of a new dialogue, saying this should be "a very short discussion" in which the UN inspectors, ejected in 1998, "have to go back on our terms". UN diplomats appear equally sceptical about the chances of a breakthrough at the proposed meeting between Iraqi officials and the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan. They note that similar encounters had come and gone in the past with no significant results. But there is little sense that Washington is any closer to resolving the fierce debate over military action in Iraq. One source close to the Security Council said: "The battle hasn't been settled. If Iraq is getting the message that they might be about to get a thumping that's OK but there is a very big difference between the words coming out of Washington and something actually happening." More immediately pressing for the Council is a two-day meeting, which started yesterday, between Russian and American diplomats in Geneva, on implementing a new Iraq sanctions regime agreed in November. Once that deal is in place, the US will be tempted to force a new showdown over weapons inspectors. If Iraq still refuses to admit them, military action could follow. But Washington would probably find itself with scant international support, at least in public. Pouring scorn on the notion of an "axis of evil", the French Foreign Minister, Hubert Védrine, openly criticised "simplistic" American foreign policy. Saudi Arabia, whose bases would be essential for an invasion of Iraq, also signalled its opposition. news.independent.co.uk