Posted on 03/11/2003 11:48:52 PM PST by JohnHuang2
he United States budged slightly at the United Nations on its ultimatum for Iraq, where the mood was growing tense in expectation of war. Hairline fractures appeared in the relationship between the United States and Britain, and new potential troubles with Turkish cooperation in military planning emerged.
A MODEST RETREAT After opposition to Washington's war plan from France and Russia grew more categorical, the Bush administration backed off today from its deadline of Monday for United Nations weapons inspections. But President Bush wants a vote on a resolution by the end of the week giving Saddam Hussein an ultimatum to disarm or face attack, the White House said.
But the question was, how much of a delay past Monday? Some nations want a month or more of weapons inspections, but the United States rejected that outright. Even 10 more days was dismissed. But according to diplomats at the United Nations, Washington may agree to a plan demanding disarmament 7 to 10 days after passage of a resolution.
Assuming a vote on Friday, that sets the ever-shifting deadline back to sometime between March 20 and 24..
GROWING RUMBLE IN BRITAIN America's strongest ally has been Britain, but political costs are emerging to Prime Minister Tony Blair's insistence on standing with Mr. Bush. Dissent is growing in Mr. Blair's Labor Party, and for the first time, debate has surfaced about his political future. Dissident Laborites oppose going to war without a nod from the United Nations, and some have even suggested that an attack without a United Nations resolution could lead to an effort to oust Mr. Blair.
"We will see the distinct possibility of this Labor Party being brought to its knees," said Hilton Dawson, a Labor legislator. In Washington today, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told reporters that the United States could wage war without Britain, but later seemed to back away. "We have every reason to believe there will be a significant military contribution from the United Kingdom," he said in a statement.
BAGHDAD, NO LONGER NONCHALANT In Baghdad, the mood has shifted. Two weeks ago, people went about their business, seemingly aloof from the possibility of war. But now, a current of tension crackles through the city, where people are nervously waiting for a battle that seems to get closer every day. Sermons pour from minarets invoking a last stand against the enemy, and sandbagged positions have sprouted outside government buildings and at intersections. Citizens are gathering staples, and gun sales are up. "We are afraid because we expect to be attacked at any moment," said Raghad Majid, an art student.
But what about after an attack? A group of national security experts in the United States, organized by the Council on Foreign Relations, estimated that rebuilding Iraq would cost at least $20 billion a year and would require the stationing of 75,000 to 200,000 troops to keep order in the nation of 22 million people. The panel, which included senior officials from Republican and Democratic administrations, said Mr. Bush had failed to fully lay out how much money and effort would be needed for Iraq to recover.
GETTING AROUND TURKEY More complications for the American war effort are looming in Turkey. After Parliament rejected a request to base troops there for entry by land into northern Iraq, officials said the use of air bases and airspace would also be subject to a vote, a questionable prospect. Without permission, American airstrikes would be launched only from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf and bases in surrounding nations. Navy planes coming from the gulf would have to fly over Israel and Jordan instead of southern Turkey, creating prickly diplomatic issues. The Turkish Parliament probably will not take up the issue until next week, after Recep Tayyip Erdogan forms a government.
FOOD STRIPPED OF NATIONALITY The United States' differences with its allies over dealing with Iraq moved into a new arena today: cuisine. In the latest sign of dismay over France's opposition to American war plans, the House of Representatives has banned the word "French" from its cafeteria menus. So, garçon, serve up the freedom fries and freedom toast, as the items are now called. DANIEL J. WAKIN
Huh? That's some twisted geography, otherwise known as nonsense. From the western Med, maybe, not from the gulf. But the CVs are in the gulf, not in the western Med. There are about 40 planes in Turkey on the ground, for northern no fly zone work. That is all.
Interesting in a purely autocratic state.
Saddam's Ward Captain shows up at guy's house. "Here is some money. You will go to store and buy a gun, and TV will tape you doing so. After TV is done, you will give back the weapon and we will take our money back. See?"
Michael
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