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Politics : Attack Iraq? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (1505)	9/21/2002 10:18:18 PM
From: calgal	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 8683

Striking first can be defense, Bush says By Rowan Scarborough THE WASHINGTON TIMES URL: washingtontimes.com President Bush announced a new national security strategy to combat terrorists and rogue nations such as Iraq yesterday, saying the United States has the right to unilaterally strike first in self-defense. Top Stories A dangerous mix of terrorists, rogue states and weapons of mass destruction have fundamentally shifted the United States' military posture from primarily defensive to pre-emptively offensive, says the 31-page "National Security Strategy of the United States of America." It is the president's principal guidepost for using military force and appears much more hawkish than the strategy followed by President Clinton. "The United States can no longer solely rely on a reactive posture as we have in the past," the new policy states. "We cannot let our enemies strike first. We recognize that our best defense is a good offense." The White House also says the United States will remain the world's dominant military power, using that might to fight enemies but also to foster democracy and free markets worldwide. "Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military buildup in hopes of surpassing, or equaling, the power of the United States," the document says. In a signed, opening message, Mr. Bush put in a pitch for his doctrine of pre-emptive strikes — an option missing from Mr. Clinton's national security policy. Mr. Bush argues that pre-emptive military action — whether against a rogue state or a terrorist cell — will head off national catastrophes, such as the September 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Mr. Bush, who is contemplating ordering a military invasion to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, did not mention Iraq by name. But the president's message was clearly an argument to persuade Congress to approve his resolution to authorize force to topple Saddam, who is accused of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. "We must be prepared to defeat our enemies' plans, using the best intelligence and proceeding with deliberations," the president said. "History will judge harshly those who saw this coming danger but failed to act. In the new world we have entered, the only path to peace and security is the path of action." In a concept known as "proactive counter proliferation," the policy sets out an aggressive plan for preventing rogue states from obtaining nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. "We must be prepared to stop rogue states and their terrorist clients before they are able to threaten or use weapons of mass destruction against the United States and our allies and friends," the policy states. It says the response may involve "the use of military force" — something being considered against Iraq. "While the United States will constantly strive to enlist the support of the international community, we will not hesitate to act alone, if necessary, to exercise our right of self-defense by acting preemptively against terrorists to prevent them from doing harm against our people and our country," the strategy says. Not all the paper's talk was tough, however. The Bush administration will urge Muslim countries to overcome the conditions and ideologies that promote global terrorism. It says poverty does not cause people to become terrorists but does prevent the establishment of institutions, such as schools and judicial systems, that guard against terrorism taking root.

To: calgal who wrote (1505)	9/21/2002 10:58:13 PM
From: AK2004	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8683

Westi Russia seems to be screwing its chances of becoming not just a member of nato but a member of alliance above nato that is US/UK alliance. Too bad..... -Albert

To: calgal who wrote (1505)	9/21/2002 11:20:26 PM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8683

The Latest Developments: URL: usatoday.com 09/21/2002 - Updated 10:43 AM ET Background on Iraq LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON IRAQ • U.S. troops are increasing their training with friendly forces in the Persian Gulf and are ready to act against Iraq if called upon, Gen. Tommy Franks, the head of U.S. Central Command, said Saturday. Franks, who oversaw U.S. military action in Afghanistan, acknowledged increased military exercises in the Gulf region. Further U.S.-Kuwaiti amphibious, ground, air and naval training exercises were expected to begin this month. • Iraq on Saturday rejected U.S. efforts to secure a U.N. resolution threatening war, with Iraqi state-run radio announcing Baghdad will not abide by unfavorable new resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security Council. • President Bush declared in an aggressive new national security strategy Friday that the United States will stop any adversary challenging America's military superiority and adopt a strike-first policy against terrorist threats "before they're fully formed." The 35-page document, titled "The National Security Strategy of the United States of America," marks the end to the deterrent military strategy that dominated the Cold War and officially shifts the country to a pre-emptive policy that Bush first outlined at West Point in June. • Russia is leaving the door slightly open to compromise as the Bush administration insists on a new U.N. resolution to threaten Iraq with war if it does not disarm. Russia's decision could turn on whether it gets new and convincing evidence that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is building up stockpiles of dangerous weapons. • The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N's nuclear watchdog, put its 18-member core team on alert after Iraq's announcement this week that it would accept the inspectors' return. The team could leave as soon as the U.N. Security Council clears the mission and visa and travel arrangements are nailed down. Hans Blix, chief U.N. weapons inspector, told the Security Council Thursday that if all goes well at talks scheduled with the Iraqis in Vienna for Sept. 30, he could have an advance team on the ground by Oct. 15 and that some early inspections could be conducted soon afterward. • Edmund Stoiber, the conservative challenger to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, would not question the United States' use of its own bases in Germany for an attack on Iraq. A spokesman helped clarify Stoiber's stance, shared in a TV interview Thursday. Stoiber was asked if he would allow Germany to be used as strategic staging ground for a war on Iraq, and replied, "Certainly never if the Americans go it alone." •Iraq is free of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Saddam Hussein told the United Nations in a speech read Thursday by his foreign minister. The White House dismissed the speech as a "disappointing failure." The comments were the first attributed to the Iraqi leader since Iraq's surprise announcement this week that it would accept the unconditional return of international weapons inspectors. The decision, which followed a tough speech on Iraq last week by President Bush, has divided the major powers on the U.N. Security Council. •Congress must authorize the use of military force against Iraq before the U.N. Security Council votes on the issue, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress Wednesday. Rumsfeld's testimony came shortly after President Bush said Saddam is "not going to fool anybody" with his promise to admit weapons inspectors and predicted the United Nations will rally behind his Iraq policy despite signs of unease. • The United States and Britain began drafting a new resolution on Iraq on Wednesday aimed at authorizing the use of force should Baghdad fail to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions, Western diplomats said. The draft may be ready by next week and then circulated to the three other permanent members of the Security Council - France, Russia and China - one of the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press. • The return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Iraq could delay or complicate U.S. military action there because of the narrow window when the weather is suitable for ground attacks, military analysts say. U.S. officials the ideal time for launching such action is late fall through early spring, when temperatures are moderate enough for ground troops to travel in heavy armored vehicles and wear bulky suits to protect against chemical or biological weapons. Iraq said Monday it would allow unconditional weapons inspections. The process could take months as United Nations teams arrive and begin their work. The effect for the Pentagon could be a delayed opportunity to strike.