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

To: KLP who wrote (5063)	3/6/2003 10:20:32 PM
From: KLP	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 15991

Bush Says He Won't Leave Americans at 'mercy of Iraqi Dictator' By Ron Fournier The Associated Press Mar 6, 2003 WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, bracing the nation for war, said Thursday night the United States will drive Saddam Hussein from power if it comes to military force - with or without support from France, Germany and other skeptical allies. "I will not leave the American people at the mercy of the Iraqi dictator and his weapons," Bush said at a prime-time news conference. Bush said he had not decided whether to invade Iraq but that it was only a matter of days before a U.N. Security Council vote on a U.S.-backed resolution authorizing force. He said the United States wants the Security Council to vote even if the resolution appears likely to fail. "It's time for people to show their cards and let people know where they stand in relation to Saddam." France, Germany, Russia and China say they oppose such a resolution. "Our mission is clear in Iraq," the president. "Should we have to go in, our mission is very clear: disarmament. In order to disarm, it will mean regime change. I'm confident that we'll be able to achieve that objective in a way that minimizes the loss of life." Bush said it was up to Saddam to avert war. "It's his choice to make whether or not we go to war. He's the person that can make the choice of war or peace. Thus far he's made the wrong choice." The president's news conference came on the eve of a crucial Security Council meeting. On Friday, chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and his counterpart, Mohamed ElBaradei, will report on Iraq's measure of cooperation in eliminating its banned weapons. Their assessment could weigh heavily in determining the outcome of the Security Council's vote on a resolution to authorize force. Before the news conference, Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about the U.N. resolution, White House aides said. They agreed to continue discussions. Intensifying his case against Saddam, Bush is considering a major address next week to explain the justification and risks of military conflict, aides said. The speech could include a final warning to Saddam while urging journalists and humanitarian workers to leave Iraq, they said. But officials said the president is not inclined to set an eleventh-hour deadline for Iraq's disarmament, fearing Saddam would use the grace period to further divide U.S. allies. They did not rule out the United States backing a British proposal that would give the Iraqi leader a few more days to disarm. But aides acknowledged that the British proposal was unlikely to be a galvanizing force. Bush has privately expressed frustration with Saddam's ability to turn France and other allies against the resolution just a few months after a similar measure passed 15-0 in the Security Council, aides said. Bush answered questions for about 40 minutes after making his case against Saddam in a 10-minute opening statement in the East Room. Asked how his faith was guiding him through these deliberations, Bush said: "I pray daily, I pray for guidance and wisdom and strength." He added that if he decides to send troops into war, "I would pray for their safety and I would pray for the safety of innocent Iraqi lives as well." Bush, growing teary-eyed, said it was a "humbling experience" to know that people he's never met "have lifted me and my family up in prayer. It's been a comforting feeling to know that." Turning to another foreign policy hot spot, Bush said the best way to deal with rising tensions with North Korea is to involve other nations in the region, such as China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. "I think the best way to deal with this is in multilateral fashion by convincing those nations that they must stand up to their responsibilities, along with the United States to convince Kim Jong Il that development of a nuclear arsenal is not in his nation's interests," Bush said. Bush's news conference was part of an intensifying campaign to prepare Americans for the possibility of a war that could be just days away. Military leaders say U.S. forces are now ready to strike Iraq. More than 230,000 troops are now arrayed around Iraq and more are on the way, awaiting a final go-ahead from the president. "If we have to use force, I think a lot of nations will be with us," Bush said. Speaking particularly about France and Germany, Bush said, "We have a disagreement over how best to deal with Saddam Hussein. I understand that. Having said that, they're still our friends." The president said the United States will call for a Security Council vote even if it appears certain that the U.S.-backed resolution will be defeated. Bush left no doubt that the United States would remove Saddam from power if it comes to war. "We will disarm Iraq. And if we go to war, there will be a regime change and replacing this cancer inside of Iraq will be a government that represents the rights of all the people." The president said he still hopes that Saddam disarms or that he leaves Iraq on his own. AP-ES-03-06-03 2143EST This story can be found at: ap.tbo.com

To: KLP who wrote (5063)	3/7/2003 3:02:57 AM
From: bela_ghoulashi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 15991

UK ready to ignore UN veto on Iraq By Krishna Guha in London, James Harding in Washington and Mark,Turner at the United NationsPublished: March 7 2003 4:00 \| Last Updated: March 7 2003 4:00 Britain is prepared to join the US in a war against Iraq even if France and Russia veto a new resolution at the United Nations Security Council, Tony Blair said yesterday. Advertisement In a sign of mounting diplomatic tension over French-led efforts to block a new resolution authorising military action, the prime minister made it clear for the first time that - like the US - Britain would not be held back even if there were more than one "unreasonable" veto. His comments, in an interview with the MTV music television station, came on the eve of the latest report to the Security Council by Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, on whether Iraq is complying with the demands made under last November's resolution 1441 to give up its weapons of mass destruction. Colin Powell, US secretary of state, will urge the 15 council members not to give President Saddam Hussein any more time to comply and to vote next week for a second resolution giving the green light for use of force. Yesterday China said it backed a statement issued on Wednesday by France, Germany and Russia pledging to block the new resolution and calling for more time for inspections. As permanent members of the Security Council, China, France and Russia have the power of veto. Mr Blair - under severe political pressure not to go to war without UN backing - said he still believed it was possible to pass the new resolution. Britain has proposed writing in a short delay giving Iraq a final chance to disarm, in an effort to win over wavering council members. But the prime minister appeared to acknowledge the resolution may yet face a French and possibly a Russian veto. Asked whether he would take military action without a second resolution, he said: "If there was a veto applied by one of the countries with a veto, or by countries that I thought were applying the veto unreasonably, in those circumstances we would." Mr Blair said the UK and US could not sustain the military pressure on Iraq indefinitely. "We have 300,000 troops down there sitting on his doorstep. We can't wait for ever." The prime minister said that if there were a war and Mr Hussein were captured, he should be brought before a war-crimes tribunal. "I think there is a very good case for making sure that Saddam faces trial," he said. He added that he was still prepared to allow the Iraqi dictator to go into exile peacefully. In an attempt to rebut claims that the UK and US wanted control of Iraq's oil wealth, Mr Blair said that all Iraqi oil revenue would go into a UN trust fund and be used solely for the benefit of the Iraqi people. Neither Britain nor the US would be able to access that money without UN approval, he added. The growing assumption in Washington is that President George W. Bush has made up his mind to go to war. Latin American ambassadors called to the White House for a briefing with Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, left with the impression that "the decision has been made", one said. In his report today Mr Blix is expected to chart increasingly active disarmament measures by Iraq, including destruction of a number of al-Samoud 2 missiles. But he is unlikely to say Baghdad has made a fundamental turnaround and that compliance is complete. As a result, his report will be taken as backing for both camps. Hewitt woos women, Page 6 Iraq crisis, Pages 10 & 11 Editorial Comment, Page 18 Comment & analysis, Page 19 www.ft.com/iraq New bin Laden hunt CIA officers arrived in Pakistan yesterday as evidence mounted that the hunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been narrowed down to an area around the port of Gawadar near the Iranian border. Intelligence officials said the search was "white hot", after last week's arrest of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed. news.ft.com