Posted on 01/29/2003 10:10:41 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
Thursday 30 January 2003, 07:05AM A top Bush administration official believes Australia will follow the United States into a war with Iraq even without United Nations sanctioning.
US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said planning between Australian and American troops was already smoothly underway.
The words of Prime Minister John Howard showed that Australia would stand by the US in its efforts to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
"I think the very strong statements the prime minister made today make it very clear where Australia stands," he told ABC television.
"I think Australia's solidarity with us is an important piece of trying to achieve a peaceful resolution here, and if it comes to the use of force to make it as humane and effective as possible."
Mr Howard continues to deny Australia would automatically follow the US into a war in Iraq without UN sanction.
But he stressed time was running out for Iraq and President Saddam Hussein to come clean with the level of weapons of mass destruction held in the country.
Much would depend on the reaction of the UN Security Council after it is briefed by US Secretary of State Colin Powell next week.
"There will be some new information presented to the Security Council and if there is new information and new intelligence that can be declassified, then it's a good idea that it be presented," he said.
Opposition Leader Simon Crean said the UN's credibility would take a blow if the US started a war against Iraq without sanction from the world organisation.
"It wouldn't be a fatal blow to the UN's authority, but what it signals is unilateralism is a pattern that can be followed and that's bad for world peace and security," he said.
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