Posted on 01/25/2003 12:19:22 PM PST by Happy2BMe
Defence Minister John McCallum had said Canadian officers were not invited to the at U.S. Central Command strategy sessions until Ottawa committed its soldiers to the use of force to remove the Iraqi dictator if necessary.
McCallum also said Canada would consider joining an international military coalition without UN backing. The defence minister was publicly chided a week later by Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who said Canada had made no such commitment.
Defence Department officials in Ottawa and Tampa, Fla., said Canadian military planners are sitting in on planning for any potential strike aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein at U.S. Central Command. That strike could come within days.
Defence Minister John McCallum had said Canadian officers were not invited to the strategy sessions until Ottawa committed its soldiers to the use of force to remove the Iraqi dictator if necessary.
McCallum also said Canada would consider joining an international military coalition without UN backing.
The defence minister was publicly chided a week later by Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who said Canada had made no such commitment.
But the prime minister did not ask his generals and admirals to pull out of the planning sessions in Tampa.
"We're continuing to plan," said Maj. Mike Fabbro, spokesman for Canadian troops at U.S. Central Command. "We haven't changed direction.
"We're still going to our meetings. We're still going to our briefings."
Asked how that squared with McCallum's assertion that Canada was only invited to the planning sessions on condition of a pledge to take part militarily - a pledge that has been taken back by the prime minister - Fabbro suggested that the question be put to someone in the defence minister's office.
A spokesman for McCallum confirmed that Canadian officers are working with their U.S. counterparts on Iraqi war scenarios.
"As far as I know, they're still there," Shane Diaczuk said.
"It's not really planning. They were in discussions."
Chretien has kept the nature of Canada's participation in an international coalition ambiguous. Several Liberal caucus members have expressed opposition to any plan that would remove Saddam without UN approval.
When asked about the ambiguity in Canada's position, Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld said he understands the reluctance of some countries to make a public commitment at this time.
"It's up to Canada to decide what it wishes to do," Rumsfeld told a briefing for foreign reporters.
"It seems to me it's asking a lot for other countries to step forward publicly and say where they are on this until and unless the case has been fully made, and the president has indicated that he's concluded that force must be used."
Canada is not alone in its reluctance to endorse a military mission to Iraq outside UN auspices.
France and Germany have renewed their pledge to push for a peaceful resolution to the U.S.-Iraq conflict.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder made his clearest statement yet that his country would vote against war with Iraq in the UN Security Council.
"Don't expect Germany to approve a resolution legitimizing war, don't expect it," he said.
Foreign Minister Bill Graham appeared to keep Canada's options open Wednesday while suggesting he favoured a UN solution.
"I would urge all countries to support strongly the United Nations process and to indicate clearly to Saddam Hussein that, in the event he does not respect the international will . . . that there will be consequences," said Graham.
The Bush administration has told its allies it is prepared to act without them. President George W. Bush said the United States will lead "a coalition of the willing" to force Saddam to disarm. He refused to say which countries would make up that coalition.
In response to a question about Canadian participation, Rumsfeld said "a very large number of countries" are willing to join that coalition with or without UN approval.
Bush is also "very likely to present to the world some additional information relating to . . . Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, its relationship with terrorist organizations ," to help persuade fence-sitting allies, Rumsfeld said.
22 January, 2003
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.