Europe and Iraq: Who stands where?

BBC ^ | 1/27/03 | BBC

[ffusco]

Monday, 27 January, 2003, 12:46 GMT Europe and Iraq: Who stands where?

Europe is split down the middle on Iraq. As the UK leads a group of countries broadly supportive of military action, Russia, France and Germany are heading an anti-war bloc. BBC News Online explains where key European countries stand.

Broadly or fully pro-war countries

* UK: The most pro-US European nation. The UK is fully committed to military action - if necessary, without a further UN resolution. Thousands of British troops have already been despatched to the region, although PM Tony Blair continues to stress that war is not inevitable. The UK might back extra time for the inspectors, but only a matter of weeks. * Spain: Spain would back a UN-endorsed war, and is expected to fall in behind the US in the event of military action without a further UN resolution. Ministers say Iraq has respected none of the international conditions set by the UN Security Council, and say Baghdad "beats the world record for human rights violations." Spanish FM Ana Palacio said last week: "The situation is Iraq is inextricably linked to the problem of terrorism." Spain has a vote on the UN Security Council, but could not veto a war even if it wanted to. * Italy: Silvio Berlusconi, strongly pro-US in his general outlook, says UN officials must be given time to finish their job. But he is expected to support the US in the event of a military campaign, even without further UN resolutions. Mr Berlusconi is keen for EU and US to reach unity, warning it would be a "calamity" if there was a damaging split, but has not sounded optimistic about the chances of achieving a common position. Italy also suggests an Italian-Spanish-British axis to rival the Franco-German axis. * Denmark: The Danish Government would support a UN-sanctioned war, and has also strongly suggested that it would back a US-initiated conflict. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen says existing UN resolutions give the green light for war, if Iraq does not fall in line with the call for disarmament. * Netherlands: The Dutch are seen as being fairly close to the US-British position, although the country has been distracted by a general election. The Christian Democrats of Jan Peter Balkenende have retained their role as the biggest Dutch party and are expected to line up behind the US and UK.

[goodnesswins]

WHO STANDS WHERE....this says it ALL!!!!

Join the AXIS OF FREEDOM Rally on TUESDAY –

it’s a CAR/HOUSE/YARD sign Rally

DAY of SUPPORT…Tues, 1/28/03....FLY your flags (U.S., British, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Quatar, Kuwaiti, Israeli, Australian and Japanese one, too if you have them)....and put up your BUSH/CHENEY signs, (and the BIG W's on your SUV's) for the STATE of the UNION next Tuesday, Jan 28th, if you support the President, our MILITARY and the United States of America. PSST....pass it on.

FREE the IRAQI people!!!

	UK	JAPAN
AUSTRALIA	BULGARIA	What OTHER country wants the IRAQI citizens FREEDOM?
ROMANIA	ISRAEL	POLAND
SPAIN	CZECH
KUWAIT	HUNGARY	QATAR