Steve Quayle News Alerts

Sept. 18, 2002

President Bush, who met with Congressional leaders at the White House on Wednesday, said he received a commitment to pass an Iraq resolution before Congress’s pre-election break in October.

The U.S. is continuing to press its case for a U.N. Security Council resolution to disarm Iraq, but not without opposition.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 — President Bush, his momentum for a new U.N. ultimatum on Iraq stalled, said Wednesday he would unveil within days a proposed congressional resolution authorizing him to take action against Baghdad. The move appeared designed to keep pressure on the U.N. Security Council while preparing U.S. forces for war, should Iraq thwart a new round of weapons inspections.

BUSH TOLD REPORTERS after he met with congressional leaders at the White House that he had received a commitment to pass an Iraq resolution before Congress’ pre-election break in October.
“We talked about a resolution out of Congress and how it’s important for us to work with Congress to pass a strong resolution. I told the members that within the next couple of days this administration will develop language that we think is necessary, and we look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a resolution passed,” Bush said.
The president said a resolution would send an important signal of U.S. determination to the world. Iraq’s offer Monday to allow a return of U.N. weapons inspectors has weakened Bush’s drive for a new U.N. resolution on Iraq.
“It’s an important signal for the world to see that this country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face,” Bush said.
Underscoring Bush’s resolve, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that Congress must authorize the use of military force against Iraq before the Security Council votes on the issue.

“No terrorist state poses a greater and more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq,” said. “The goal isn’t inspections, the goal is disarmament,” Rumsfeld said. “That is what Iraq agreed to do.”
The White House has raised the specter of military action to remove Saddam from power if the Iraqi leader fails to dismantle his chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs. Bush wants the authority to use force included, at least implicitly, in any new Security Council resolution — and in any congressional resolution, as well.

SUPPORT WAVERS
Iraq’s surprise decision to allow the inspectors back in after nearly four years has shattered the near-global support for the Security Council to get tough on Baghdad. Russia and Arab nations now oppose the U.S. demand for action.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov clashed at a news conference over the need for a new Security Council resolution that would set a deadline for the return of inspectors and threaten consequences if Iraq doesn’t cooperate.
The exchange between the two veto-wielding council members set the stage for difficult negotiations if the United States introduces a tough anti-Iraq resolution, as expected.
“We have seen this game before,” Powell said of the Iraqi offer of inspections. He called for a new resolution to keep the pressure on Iraq “to make sure that we satisfy the need for disarmament.”
But Ivanov, whose country is Iraq’s closest ally on the Security Council, said there was no need for a new resolution. “Russia believes that the main job now is to see to it that the inspectors — without any artificial delays or obstacles — should go to Iraq and get down to discharging their functions,” he said.
Sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait cannot be lifted until U.N. inspectors certify that its weapons of mass destruction have been destroyed. The inspectors left in 1998, ahead of U.S. airstrikes, and Iraq has barred them from returning.

PUBLIC RELATIONS BATTLE
Wednesday was the second straight day that Bush has prodded the U.N. to move against Saddam, reflecting concerns about by senior advisers that Iraq has gained the upper hand in the public relations battle.
Democratic leaders sounded a note of bipartisanship as they emerged from the meeting.
Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., said, “I think this is an important moment for our country and for the international community to work together.”
Bush promised to reveal in the next few days his proposal for a congressional resolution. U.S. officials say. He wants authority to use “all appropriate means” to counter Saddam, but Democrats did not commit to any wording Wednesday.
Daschle told reporters he would not “make any precondition or any supposition about what the (congressional) resolution ought to say at this point.” But he said he believes “at the end of the day, the United Nations is going to be where it needs to be.”

ARMS INSPECTORS MEET
A majority of the 15-member U.N. Security Council decided, despite a U.S. request for more time, to quickly schedule a meeting, possibly Wednesday, with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to discuss renewed inspections. The Americans, supported by Britain and Colombia, wanted extra time to prepare a new resolution, diplomats said.
Blix, who is in charge of dismantling Iraq’s biological and chemical weapons and the long-range missiles to deliver them, began preliminary talks with an Iraqi delegation on the details of the inspectors’ return.
The to-do list includes: securing use of the previous inspection agency’s Baghdad headquarters, locating possible new offices in Basra and Mosul, installing equipment, arranging travel and accommodations, and finding landing sites for aircraft.
By Blix’s timetable, discussions on the arrangements should be completed by Oct. 6.
Asked when the inspectors might actually return to Baghdad, Iraqi Foreign Ministry official Saeed Hasan replied, “It depends on Mr. Blix’s arrangements.”
Arab ministers, who led the campaign to get Saddam’s government to allow the inspectors back, now support the Russian position on Iraq: No new resolution is needed and let’s get the inspectors back quickly.

BUSH CRITICAL OF OPPOSITION
Bush bristled at suggestions that some U.S. allies, particularly France and Russia, might allow the promise of inspections to replace the need for a tough new U.N. resolution demanding Saddam to disarm.
“All they’ve got to do is look at his record. His latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He’s not going to fool anybody,” Bush said.
In a statement Tuesday night, Arab foreign ministers called on all states “to refrain from the threat of use of force against Iraq” — a clear reference to the United States.
France, another veto-wielding council member, called for a quick test of Iraq’s motives. “We must not lose time — act quickly, send in the inspectors,” said Francois Rivasseau, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry.

Unlike the Gulf War, another full-scale U.S. attack on Iraq appears to lack the support of most Western allies and, more importantly, Iraq’s neighbors and key Arab states. Here’s how the key nations have lined up so far on the issue of a “regime change” in Baghdad.

WITH THE US

Israel: A firm supporter of the U.S. policy to oust Saddam Hussein, the government has urged President Bush not to delay military action. Meantime, the Israeli public is being prepared for retaliatory Iraqi missile attacks in the event of an American attack.
Britain: Prime Minister Tony Blair has emerged as Washington's strongest U.S. ally in Europe. Despite skepticism among the British public and within his own Labor Party about his pro-U.S. advocacy, Blair has warned that Saddam Hussein faces military action if he continues to defy U.N. demands for the return of weapons inspectors.

MAY SUPPORT THE U.S.

Australia: The government has promised to give “serious consideration” to a request for military help from the United States.
Bahrain: Headquarters of the Navy’s 5th fleet, the tiny Persian Gulf island is already home to more than 4,000 U.S. troops. The government, while officially opposed to military action against Iraq, is expected to allow the U.S. to operate from its bases in the country.
Kuwait: No friend of Saddam Hussein, Kuwait has expressed reservations about a U.S. attack but would likely help in the event of military action. There already are thousands U.S. Army soldiers are based in Camp Doha near Kuwait City.
Qatar: Although officially opposed to an attack, the government has permitted the United States to rapidly upgrade its al Udeid air base over the past year. Commander of U.S. Central Command Tommy Franks has said the base is being developed for "times of crisis."
Saudi Arabia: A key ally during the Gulf War, the kingdom has indicated it will support a new campaign if it authorized by the United Nations. The stance, articulated in mid September, is a switch from a policy of outright rejection that Saudi Arabia had initially expressed.
Turkey: NATO member and Iraq neighbor, the government is worried about the fallout from a “regime change” in Baghdad, especially when it comes to the separatist aspirations of restless Kurds in northern Iraq and Turkey.

ARAB OPPOSITION

Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak says there is not enough evidence to justify military action.Jordan: King Abdullah has campaigned against a military strike and said Jordan will not allow U.S. troops to operate from its territory.
Syria: Damascus, while no friend of Saddam Hussein, is opposed to U.S. action.

OTHER OPPOSITION

Canada: “Unlikely” to join a U.S.-led invasion unless proof emerges that Saddam Hussein plans to attack the Western world.
China: Opposes military action, demands the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Iraq.
Germany: The government, in the midst of an election battle, has been loudest among the European allies in criticizing U.S. plans.
India: Opposes armed action against any country, “more particularly with the avowed purpose of changing a regime.”
Iran: Tehran is strongly opposed to U.S. plans.
Russia: Moscow staunchly opposes U.S. action and has recently improved its own relations with the Iraqi government.
United Nations: Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged the United States to resist attacking Iraq.

But Britain, Canada, the European Union and Colombia remained doubtful about the inspections.
Rumsfeld, meanwhile, urged U.S. allies and the Security Council to unite in their resolve to disarm Saddam.
“Only certainty of U.S. and U.N. purposefulness can have even the prospect of affecting the Iraqi regime,” Rumsfeld said. “It is important that Congress send that message as soon as possible — before the U.N. Security Council votes.”
Two protesters, chanting “Inspections, not war,” briefly interrupted Rumsfeld’s testimony. A police officer escorted the women, who held banners with the same slogan, out of the hearing room.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Rumsfeld said the incident reminded him of the value of free speech, which he said Iraq does not provide its citizens.
Rumsfeld said Iraq has stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and is trying to get enough weapons-grade material to build a nuclear bomb. He said the U.S. goal is to prevent Saddam from using such weapons of mass destruction to attack America or its allies.
“The last thing we want is a smoking gun. A gun smokes after it has been fired,” Rumsfeld said. “The goal must be to stop Saddam Hussein before he fires a weapon of mass destruction against our people.”
The Pentagon, meanwhile, said Tuesday it was seeking to move some B-2 bombers closer to Baghdad.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/805226.asp