bivonic
03-18-2003, 03:23 PM
Just a few links I wanted to get up today, but couldn\'t - rather then start separate threads, I\'ll put them all in here, as they are all related to the war with Iraq.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.chemical/index.html (\"http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.chemical/index.html\")
Ah so Iraq really does have Weapons of Mass Destruction, that changes everything! I thought those countries opposed to the war thought he did not have any WMD\'s???
France saying they will help the US once Saddam unleashes his WMD on American troops:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.france.chemicals/index.html (\"http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.france.chemicals/index.html\")
USA is not acting alone, over the past 100 years this is the 3rd largest coalition against a country since WWII (47 allies) & the persian Gulf War (low 40\'s):
http://www.tribnet.com/24hour/front/story/812335p-5772004c.html (\"http://www.tribnet.com/24hour/front/story/812335p-5772004c.html\")
Powell: 30 countries in \'coalition of the willing\' against Iraq
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON (March 18, 11:49 a.m. PST) - Thirty nations have declared their support for the United States in any war with Iraq, and 15 other nations have given their backing privately [mostly like from the middle east], Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.
\"We now have a coalition of the willing that includes some 30 nations who publicly said they could be included in such a listing,\" Powell said, \"and there are 15 other nations, for one reason or another, who do not wish to be publicly named but will be supporting the coalition.\"
Powell told reporters he had received assurances of open support in telephone conversations Tuesday from the foreign ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands, which were listed, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin had reaffirmed his opposition to war with Iraq in a telephone conversation with President Bush.
But Powell said a mutual concern over terrorism and a planned reduction in nuclear weapons arsenals \"pull us together, and I think we will have this disagreement and move on.\"
At the same time, Powell said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein so far had rejected Bush\'s demand that he leave Iraq but that a number of countries were still trying to persuade the Iraqi president to go into exile.
\"He has essentially dismissed the message,\" Powell said.
Asked when the United States may go to war against Iraq, the former Army general said he had \"learned long ago not to make predictions.\"
Meanwhile, the French ambassador to the United States told CNN Tuesday that the French military could help the U.S. if Iraq uses biological or chemical weapons against U.S.-led invaders.
France has led opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq. But in an interview, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte said Iraqi use of biological or chemical weapons in a war would change France\'s position.
\"If the war starts and if Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons, it would change completely the situation for the French president and for the French government,\" Levitte said.
\"President Chirac will have to decide what we will do to help the American troops to confront this new situation,\" the ambassador told CNN.
The State Department released the list of 30 coalition countries, one of which, Japan, was identified as only a post-conflict member of the coalition.
Turkey was included, and Powell said even as the Turkish parliament debates a U.S. proposal to use Turkish territory for an invasion of northern Iraq, he was confident of Turkish cooperation in one form or another.
Powell also hinted that if the parliament accepts the U.S. proposal, the Bush administration might revive its offer of $6 billion in special economic assistance.
Powell said war plans have been drawn up designed to minimize Iraqi civilian casualties and to warn Iraqi commanders about their actions. He said the U.S. aim was \"to make it as quick as possible.\"
Powell also said he would not attend a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday at which the chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is due to make a report.
France and Russia, which opposed war and sought to extend inspections, have indicated they would be represented by their foreign ministers.
But Powell said he saw no point in going, and that U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte would represent the United States.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.chemical/index.html (\"http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.chemical/index.html\")
Ah so Iraq really does have Weapons of Mass Destruction, that changes everything! I thought those countries opposed to the war thought he did not have any WMD\'s???
France saying they will help the US once Saddam unleashes his WMD on American troops:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.france.chemicals/index.html (\"http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.france.chemicals/index.html\")
USA is not acting alone, over the past 100 years this is the 3rd largest coalition against a country since WWII (47 allies) & the persian Gulf War (low 40\'s):
http://www.tribnet.com/24hour/front/story/812335p-5772004c.html (\"http://www.tribnet.com/24hour/front/story/812335p-5772004c.html\")
Powell: 30 countries in \'coalition of the willing\' against Iraq
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON (March 18, 11:49 a.m. PST) - Thirty nations have declared their support for the United States in any war with Iraq, and 15 other nations have given their backing privately [mostly like from the middle east], Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.
\"We now have a coalition of the willing that includes some 30 nations who publicly said they could be included in such a listing,\" Powell said, \"and there are 15 other nations, for one reason or another, who do not wish to be publicly named but will be supporting the coalition.\"
Powell told reporters he had received assurances of open support in telephone conversations Tuesday from the foreign ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands, which were listed, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin had reaffirmed his opposition to war with Iraq in a telephone conversation with President Bush.
But Powell said a mutual concern over terrorism and a planned reduction in nuclear weapons arsenals \"pull us together, and I think we will have this disagreement and move on.\"
At the same time, Powell said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein so far had rejected Bush\'s demand that he leave Iraq but that a number of countries were still trying to persuade the Iraqi president to go into exile.
\"He has essentially dismissed the message,\" Powell said.
Asked when the United States may go to war against Iraq, the former Army general said he had \"learned long ago not to make predictions.\"
Meanwhile, the French ambassador to the United States told CNN Tuesday that the French military could help the U.S. if Iraq uses biological or chemical weapons against U.S.-led invaders.
France has led opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq. But in an interview, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte said Iraqi use of biological or chemical weapons in a war would change France\'s position.
\"If the war starts and if Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons, it would change completely the situation for the French president and for the French government,\" Levitte said.
\"President Chirac will have to decide what we will do to help the American troops to confront this new situation,\" the ambassador told CNN.
The State Department released the list of 30 coalition countries, one of which, Japan, was identified as only a post-conflict member of the coalition.
Turkey was included, and Powell said even as the Turkish parliament debates a U.S. proposal to use Turkish territory for an invasion of northern Iraq, he was confident of Turkish cooperation in one form or another.
Powell also hinted that if the parliament accepts the U.S. proposal, the Bush administration might revive its offer of $6 billion in special economic assistance.
Powell said war plans have been drawn up designed to minimize Iraqi civilian casualties and to warn Iraqi commanders about their actions. He said the U.S. aim was \"to make it as quick as possible.\"
Powell also said he would not attend a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday at which the chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is due to make a report.
France and Russia, which opposed war and sought to extend inspections, have indicated they would be represented by their foreign ministers.
But Powell said he saw no point in going, and that U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte would represent the United States.