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Powell: Anti-war states "afraid of responsibility"
Reuters ^ | Feb 19, 2003

Posted on 02/19/2003 1:11:14 AM PST by witnesstothefall

PARIS, - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday accused countries like France that want much longer arms inspections in Iraq of being "afraid" to take responsibility for a possible war.

In an interview with French public radio France Info, he also said Washington already had United Nations authority under November's resolution 1441 to use force even without a second resolution it was now drafting. France, which has a veto in the Security Council, says it sees no need for a new resolution.

"It cannot be a satisfactory solution for inspections just to continue forever because some nations are afraid of stepping up to the responsibility of imposing the will of the international community," Powell said.

"And so we are working with our friends and allies to (define) the content of a second resolution and when one would table such a resolution. I would also point out that many of us believe, and the United States believes, that there is probably enough authority in resolution 1441 to take action."

"It is not a matter of more inspectors or a longer inspection process. French colleagues think that that is the issue. That is not the issue in our judgment," Powell said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alarm; coldfeet; consternation; cowardice; dismay; dread; france; fright; horror; panic; terror; trepidation; trepidity
Frightened French frogs fret fitfully.
1 posted on 02/19/2003 1:11:15 AM PST by witnesstothefall
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To: americanbychoice; An.American.Expatriate; a_Turk; BMCDA; demlosers; eabinga; ...
Here's the German Version. This showed up on "Spiegel" about 4 AM, or so. "Spiegel" has been hitting the US hard so far today, basically calling it "Empire America". Interesting developments.

Powell Accuses France of Being Afraid

US Secretary of State Colin Powell accused countries, such as France, who speak out for longer weapon's inspections, of shying away from the responsibility of war.

In an interview with the French radio station France Info Powell also emphasized that the USA is justified strike Iraq militarily even without a second UN resolution.

"It can't be a satisfactory solution to let inspections continue indefinitely because a few countries are afraid to assume the responsibility of enforcing the will of the international community", said Powell. Besides France, particularly Germany has spoken out for a continuation of UN inspections and a peaceful solution of the Iraq conflict. It's not a question of more inspections or a longer inspection process. The USA didn't share the view of French colleagues.

Powell added that the USA indeed conferred with its allies over a second Iraq resolution. The Iraq resolution enacted in November was nonetheless sufficient to proceed against Iraq. France had stated that a second US resolution is not necessary and indicated war as solely a last resort. The country has rights to a veto in the UN Security Council with which it can block any resolution bill. The USA and Great Britain have threatened Iraq with war if the country doesn?t fulfill UN demands to disarm.

Spiegel / Yahoo Germany / Reuters

Spiegel.. Powell wirft Frankreich Ängstlichkeit vor

Yahoo-Germany..Powell wirft Frankreich in Irak-Frage Ängstlichkeit vor

Translated by longjack

German Ping

2 posted on 02/19/2003 2:14:55 AM PST by longjack
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To: witnesstothefall
When, if ever, have the French stood tall militarily? Even in Desert Storm they did comparatively little and mostly in air theatre rather than on the ground. In short they are a wimpy bunch of hypocrits and the Germans' favorite doormat!
3 posted on 02/19/2003 5:27:03 AM PST by t4texas
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To: witnesstothefall
Nothin new
4 posted on 02/19/2003 5:27:57 AM PST by Marines981 ("GOD, Marines, and Country")
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To: Marines981
What's your point? Perhaps we should just move along, nothing to see here?
5 posted on 02/19/2003 7:33:04 AM PST by witnesstothefall
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