East Europe says Powell has proved Iraq is lying

Reuters | 2/05/03 | Dina Kyriakidou

[kattracks]

BUCHAREST, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Ten east European states threw their weight on Wednesday behind the U.S. bid to disarm Iraq, saying Washington had shown the United Nations it must act to rid Baghdad of its banned weapons of mass destruction.

After U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told the U.N. Security Council Iraq had conspired to hide weapons of mass destruction from inspectors, the 10 NATO aspirants said they were convinced by Washington's "compelling evidence".

"The clear and present danger posed by the Saddam Hussein regime requires a united response from the community of democracies," the ex-communist states said in a statement released in New York.

The declaration underlines the strong support for the U.S. in ex-Warsaw pact countries, who are still grateful for American support for their battle to escape Soviet domination and for Washington's backing for their NATO membership bids.

It also pins them firmly on the pro-American side of the split within Europe over how to rid Iraq of its alleged arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

"Our countries understand the dangers posed by tyranny and the special responsibility of democracies to defend our shared values," the statement by the 10 foreign ministers said.

The signatories were Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia, who have already been invited to join NATO, as well as ex-Yugoslav states, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania, who are campaigning to be allowed into the alliance.

The 10 said Powell had successfully demonstrated in his presentation to the United Nations that Iraq hid banned weapons, deceived inspectors and was linked to international terrorism.

"The trans-Atlantic community...must stand together to face the threat posed by the nexus of terrorism and dictators with weapons of mass destruction," it said.

Baghdad was in "material breach" of U.N. resolutions, it added, invoking the code for backing the use of U.S. military might to invade Iraq. Most of the signatories have been asked to provide some military or technical assistance to the U.S.

Ex-communist NATO members Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic last week signed up to a similar statement backing the tough stance taken by U.S. President George W. Bush.

That letter, also signed by Britain, Denmark, Italy, Portugal and Spain, opened a rift with other European Union members France and Germany, which have misgivings about going to war to force Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to disarm.

Iraq denies possessing banned weapons and says Washington is not interested in disarming the Middle East state but in gaining control of its oil riches. (Additional reporting by Erik Brynhildsbakken in Riga) ((Reporting by Dina Kyriakidou, editing by Ian MacKenzie;

[uglybiker]

I think Japan is on board, and probably S. Korea. Phillipines often sides with us, too. Singapore, anyone?

I think Japan is sending two destroyers to the fleet.

Haven't heard either way about S. Korea.

The Phillipines have already voiced their full support, but have yet to hear of any commitments of troops or materiel. They've got problems (re. Islamofreaks of their own to deal with first.

I remember reading awhile back an article recommending expanding NAFTA to include other nations. Imagine a NAFTA that includes Britain, Japan, Australia, and several former Eastern Bloc nations. Imagine an American alliance that, economically and militarily, would be so great that no other nation, or group of nations, would hope to match.

Hmmmmmm.....

[areafiftyone]

BEHOLD! - THE REAL EUROPE!!!

[eleni121]

Many of these enlightened nations have experienced the twin tortures of totalitarianism and the horrors of Muslim (Turkish and Arab )domination and genocide in the past.

They realize that it's good to finally be on the side of the winner!

Hey Greece...wake up!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[The signatories were Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia, who have already been invited to join NATO, as well as ex-Yugoslav states, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania, who are campaigning to be allowed into the alliance.]

They know a bad guy when they see one.

[4Liberty]

CAN YOU PROVIDE A HOT LINK TO THIS ARTICLE? I searched Reuters, .... no article. Thanks!

[Rome2000]

The liberals are already saying those countries you lited are "minor" who are merely on board in exchange for a payoff from the USA.

Apparently, only the Vichy French and the Nazis represent Europe.

[Moose4]

The declaration underlines the strong support for the U.S. in ex-Warsaw pact countries, who are still grateful for American support for their battle to escape Soviet domination and for Washington's backing for their NATO membership bids.

Wait a minute. You mean there are countries in the world besides the UK and Australia that are actually GRATEFUL for what we've done for them?

Thank you, Eastern Europe. You who have been downtrodden too many times in your history...you, my friends, "get it" in a way that the Axis of Weasels simply cannot.

}:-)4

[ScholarWarrior]

Um FYI you got Albania twice

[k2blader]

Reference bump.

[goodnesswins]

I know....it's been corrected, but I'm not going to repost here.

[Momaw Nadon]

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[ScholarWarrior]

Ok. I do like the flags, particularly updated for recent events. Also, good for me to interest the kids in the war.

[graycamel]

You forgot Monaco....Put it under the category, "microscopic".

[Liberal Bob]

There is something wrong here. When the democraps speak of bipartisan they only need one or two rinos to vote their way. But bush has to get every wimp liberal in the planet to go along with him.

[Mr. Mojo]

I say we pull out of NATO and instead join with the Eastern European countries.

And then the Russians can join NATO, and we'd be living in the Twilight Zone.

[Axolotl]

"Our countries understand the dangers posed by tyranny and the special responsibility of democracies to defend our shared values," the statement by the 10 foreign ministers said.

I like this line. It is fresh in their minds what it is like to lose their freedom. I've been all around eastern europe (Slovaki being my favorite) and the positive feeling toward Americans is tangible and very refreshing.