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Politics : Foreign Policy Discussion Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (2665)	1/23/2003 8:58:41 AM
From: lorne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 15987

Don't waver, Bush warns France and Germany By David Rennie in Washington and Philip Delves Broughton 23/01/2003 President George W Bush made clear his growing exasperation with wavering allies last night, warning countries such as France and Germany that they would be "held to account" if they did not back tough action to disarm Saddam Hussein. In his strongest language to date, he poured scorn on calls for United Nations inspections to be extended, saying the Iraqi leader merely wanted more time "so he can give the so-called inspectors more runaround". Mr Bush said: "It's time for us to hold the world to account, and for Saddam to be held to account." He warned that Iraqi generals and troops would be tried as war criminals if they used chemical or biological weapons. His main target appeared to be France and Germany which yesterday set themselves adamantly at odds with US and British policy on Iraq. Speaking during celebrations of the Elysée treaty with Germany's Chancellor Schröder, the French president Jacques Chirac said the two countries had the same opinion on Iraq. "The decision must come from the UN Security Council alone . . . war is always an admission of failure. Everything must be done to avoid it." But Tony Blair joined Washington in voicing frustration at Saddam's tactics yesterday during heated exchanges in the Commons, although he said inspectors should be given more time. Mr Blair spelled out the circumstances in which Britain would join an attack on Iraq. "We would support it in the circumstances of a UN second resolution and we would support it where it was clear there was a breach by Saddam and there was an unreasonable blockage of a Security Council resolution." Last night Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, arrived in the United States for the second time in a week for what officials said was effectively a council of war today with Vice-President Dick Cheney and Colin Powell, the secretary of state. Mr Powell became the latest member of the administration to indicate that its patience with the UN inspection process is exhausted. He also revealed that on Tuesday he had "a candid and honest forthright exchange of views" with the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin - the usual diplomatic code for a blazing row. Mr Powell sought yesterday to reassure the Iraqi people and critics of US policy that in the event of an invasion by American forces, oil reserves would be held "in trust" until a civil administration was ready to take power. news.telegraph.co.uk