posted on November 21, 2002 10:13:23 AM new
But I guess most of you prefer to believe that Bush "Brain Washed" them into acting HIS way.
Nov 21, 10:34 AM (ET)
By SANDRA SOBIERAJ
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - Prodded by President Bush, the 19 NATO
leaders demanded Thursday that Iraq "fully and immediately" comply with
a U.N. resolution to disarm. Even staunchly anti-war Germany joined the
alliance in threatening "serious consequences" for Iraqi defiance.
Opening a two-day summit of the growing military alliance, the leaders
issued a four-paragraph statement that stopped short of threatening
collective military action. "NATO allies stand united in their commitment to
take effective action to assist and support the efforts of the U.N. to ensure
full and immediate compliance by Iraq, without conditions or restrictions,"
the statement said.
That pledge was designed to make NATO's logistical and diplomatic assets available to the U.N., though
it could be read as offering up the alliance's military support, said a senior Bush administration official.
But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said neither the United States nor its allies envisions
using NATO's military capacity to help enforce the resolution.
Separately, U.S. officials went ahead with contingency war-planning.
The NATO statement said, "We recall that the Security
Council in this resolution has warned Iraq that it will face
serious consequences as a result of its continued
violation of its obligations."
NATO's statement deplores Iraq's failure to comply with
past U.N. resolutions and calls the new U.N. resolution "a
final opportunity to comply with its disarmament
obligations." It called upon Iraq "to comply fully and
immediately with this and all relevant U.N. Security
Council resolutions."
One senior NATO official said scenarios for Iraq could
involve an ad-hoc "coalition of the willing" going in - citing
a phrase Bush employed Wednesday - but using NATO
assets such as planning, communications and logistics.
NATO could come in later for peacekeeping and nation-building efforts, the official suggested. He likened
the situation to a Lego toy kit, using all the various available building blocks to get a force with the right
shape.
As he marshals allies to his side against Iraq, Bush has used this NATO summit to stand with America's
more reliable partners. In a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair, the two leaders restated their desire
to see Saddam peacefully surrender his weapons of mass destruction, but both emphasized that there
will be war if he does not cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors.
"I think what you'll find here at this NATO summit is a totally united determination on behalf of the
international community, reflected in the U.N. resolution, that Saddam Hussein has to disarm himself,"
Blair said. Otherwise, it will be accomplished by force, the prime minister added.
"I think you will find now that there is a consensus for that position virtually right
across the civilized world," Blair said.
Bush, meanwhile, said he intends to keep Germany as "an important friend of the
United States," and had a polite chat with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
- their first encounter since relations soured over Bush's Iraq policy.
"We had a cordial meeting at that meeting last night. We greeted each other -
cordially," Bush said in response to a reporter's question about their
much-anticipated meeting at a black-tie summit dinner Wednesday.
Still, some ill will evidently lingered.
"They extended pleasantries and shook hands at the dinner. The president called
it a very nice social encounter," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Asked whether hard feelings remained, Fleischer twice dodged the question,
saying "The president was pleased to have the opportunity to exchange pleasantries," and "Our nations
will continue to work together."
But in Germany, government spokesman Bela Anda said U.S. requests of her allies to chip in military
support for a possible war in Iraq is being considered "with a view toward Germany's non-participation."
Although Germany was among the 19 nations signing NATO's demands on Iraq, German Foreign
Minister Joschka Fischer emphasized, "Our position is completely clear: We will not take part in a
military strike against Iraq." He added that Germany hopes the world can still avoid "a catastrophe, a
war."
