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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ajax99 who wrote (16875)	3/7/2003 3:52:24 AM
From: PartyTime	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

Washington increasingly in the cold March 7 2003 By Glenn Kessler Washington Thousands of people demonstrate in Paris against the possibility of war with Iraq. The Bush Administration this week has become increasingly isolated in the world over its determination to topple the Iraqi Government, leaving it with an extraordinarily weak position in the lead-up to a critical United Nations Security Council meeting today. By contrast, Iraq has made great headway in splintering the Security Council, making it less likely it will approve a US-backed resolution authorising military action. Iraq last weekend began complying with a demand to destroy missiles that exceeded UN restrictions, providing apparently unrestricted access to seven scientists and promising to answer inspectors' questions on its weapons programs. The sense of US isolation, which has been building for some time, culminated with a series of setbacks this week for the US position. Turkey's Parliament rejected a request to accept US troops, which experts said emboldened smaller countries on the Security Council to consider defying the US. Iraq's efforts to demonstrate co-operation strengthened the resolve of France and Russia - two veto-holding powers on the Security Council - to say the inspections were working and a war was not necessary. Anti-war protests on college campuses this week and around the world last month have left the image of a policy out of sync with public opinion. "Between Turkey and the German/French/Russian statements that hint at a veto, it doesn't look good," said Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser to former president Jimmy Carter. "There are two dangers that could result from the events of the past week. There is a mindless war conducted by us. And Saddam is encouraged not to give in," he said. The policy setbacks, Mr Brzezinski said, had raised the ante for the Administration's gamble. "At stake is not Iraq," he said. "At stake is our global role." The Administration's isolation appears to be a product of a number of factors. These include its hard-edged rhetoric and what many say is a growing distrust of its motives and its failure to make a case that Iraq poses an imminent danger. The blunt talk often used by President Bush and senior US officials when referring to Iraq - often effective among supporters at home - has not translated well among foreign audiences. Mr Bush, for example, has said more than once he was tired by diplomatic delays, creating the impression he was eager for war and viewed the UN as a distraction. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld angered allies in Europe, some said needlessly, by appearing to dismiss their concerns. While Mr Bush won praise for bringing Iraq to the UN in September, eventually many countries began to feel that his efforts to solicit the backing of other countries was disingenuous. The Administration won a number of votes for a November UN resolution authorising resumed weapons inspections in Iraq - which passed unanimously - by arguing that a tough resolution was the best way to avoid a war. Several foreign diplomats said they were taken aback - even betrayed - by what they perceived as the Administration's rush to war. Washington Post theage.com.au