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US will not listen to calls for ceasefire, says Powell
Agence France-Presse (AFP) ^ | 3-26-03

Posted on 03/26/2003 3:07:38 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

DOHA -- The United States will not listen to calls for a ceasefire in its war with Iraq, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Arabic-language Al-Jazeera television network on Wednesday.

"It would merely delay the inevitable and give Saddam Hussein some chance to believe that he could avoid the serious consequences that he has caused to befall his regime," Powell said.

He explained: "We are interested in concluding this conflict, not having a pause right now or stopping right now, but concluding this as quickly as possible so we can get on with the rebuilding of Iraq and putting in place a better system of governance."

Powell was at pains to underline that he remained in close contact with US allies in the Arab world.

"I have conveyed to them what our strategy is: to conduct this war in as effective a way as we can, doing everything we can to minimize casualties, minimize damage to property," he added.

But just hours earlier, he had criticized Al-Jazeera's reporting of the war, which he said showed the US in a negative light and exaggerated Iraq's small military achievements.

In an interview with National Public Radio, Powell accused the Qatar-based satellite broadcaster of a lack of objectivity.

"Al-Jazeera has an editorial line and a way of presenting news that appeals to the Arab public," he said. "They watch it and they magnify the minor successes of the regime.

"And they tend to portray our efforts in a negative light," Powell said, adding that he hoped Al-Jazeera would report on US efforts to improve the lives of the Iraqi people as the conflict continued and after it is over.

"We will see what Al-Jazeera is reporting after we have defeated this regime and the United States ... working with others, working with the UN start to bring in humanitarian supplies, medical supplies, a reconstruction effort and put in place a better life for the people of Iraq," he said.

"I hope Al-Jazeera is going to be around to watch that and report that to the Arab public and I think at that point, the Arab public will realize that we came in peace, we came as liberators, not conquerors," he said.

Earlier Wednesday, Al-Jazeera, which was the first broadcaster to show videotapes of dead and captured US troops in Iraq, said its viewership had jumped 10 percent since the war began last week.

The POW footage, which had been taken from and was later shown on Iraqi state television, provoked fury from US and British officials who called it a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

In addition to the POW pictures, the station has provided groundbreaking coverage of the war and is the only channel broadcasting from the southern city of Basra, scene of a furious battle between Iraqi and besieging US-led coalition forces.

The channel first gained major Western attention by broadcasting statements from Osama bin Laden after his al-Qaeda organization's Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.


TOPICS: Canada; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Germany; Government; Israel; Japan; Mexico; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Russia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ceasefire; colinpowell; roadtobaghdad
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1 posted on 03/26/2003 3:07:38 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Colin Powell is kicking a__ these days.
2 posted on 03/26/2003 3:09:32 PM PST by mondonico (Peace through Superior Firepower)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
We can't hear the call for cease fire - there's too many bombs going off we can't hear anything but Kabooms.


3 posted on 03/26/2003 3:10:28 PM PST by vastrightwc
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To: mondonico
Indeed.
4 posted on 03/26/2003 3:10:38 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (Let's Roll)
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To: mondonico
We would just have to come back and do it again.
5 posted on 03/26/2003 3:12:17 PM PST by Duckdog
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To: Duckdog
Yeah. IIRC, we tried the cease-fire route in 1991.
6 posted on 03/26/2003 3:13:11 PM PST by mondonico (Peace through Superior Firepower)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
This isn't Vietnam again....ie., *time-out* let's go to Paris & talk about it.

Get ready to meet Allah, Saddam! (If you haven't already)
7 posted on 03/26/2003 3:17:09 PM PST by Teetop (democrats....... socialist.........whats the difference?)
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To: mondonico
How about sending the same message to CNN ABC NBC and CBS while you're at it, Sir?
8 posted on 03/26/2003 3:18:31 PM PST by Right_Rev (my two cents, simple, yes...works for me)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Don't anyone get me wrong, I like Rumsfield. But I wish he had listened to Powell more when planning this Iraq campaign.

Powell doctrine calls for overwhelming force. As powerful as the units we have in place are, they fall short of what Powell would have used if he had been calling the shots.

Powell didn't get his four stars without knowing his trade. As smart as Rummy is, war is not his field of expertise.
9 posted on 03/26/2003 3:20:30 PM PST by Ronin
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I think this is the right message. Once the hounds of war are released they are not called off until they get the bone. That will make the diplomacy much more meaningful. Good Job Pres. Bush
10 posted on 03/26/2003 3:21:27 PM PST by Walkingfeather
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
About time he grew a pair
11 posted on 03/26/2003 3:25:06 PM PST by dinok
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To: Ronin
Hit the showers champ... you are watch Al jazera too much. Estimates are 25 K dead on there side. We are 200 miles in 5 days. We are taking another air field in N. Iraq. I am not sure what kind of Overwhelming force you are talking about? Why didn't we start by Nuking everyone? Please explain.
12 posted on 03/26/2003 3:25:31 PM PST by Walkingfeather
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To: mondonico
Colin Powell is kicking a__ these days.

After the treachery of the French and Turks, Powell has learned the value of speaking plainly. He no longer wastes time with diplo-speak.

13 posted on 03/26/2003 3:27:48 PM PST by NewYorker
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
The unspoken message in all the cries for a cease fire is we obviously must be hurting them badly. If the Iraqi's were kicking OUR butt, you wouldn't hear calls for a cease fire.
14 posted on 03/26/2003 3:32:08 PM PST by NoControllingLegalAuthority
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
All the Powell bashers should now see which side he's on...
15 posted on 03/26/2003 3:33:30 PM PST by EaglesUpForever (Ne messez pas avec le US)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Let's see...this is a culture that can calmly murder POWs and they want a ceasefire? Somehow I doubt they would honour it if they thought breaking it would somehow be an advantage to them. I seem to recall a ceasefire at Tora Bora and it has been suggested that Bin Laden used it to escape. I completely agree with Powell that this war should be ended asap and any ceasefire would only be a delay of that.
16 posted on 03/26/2003 3:40:44 PM PST by xp38
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Colin Powell said this?

Its the same Coli Powell that is the Secretary of State?
17 posted on 03/26/2003 3:41:46 PM PST by Kay Soze (France - "The country where the worms live above ground")
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To: xp38
Btw when I say ended asap I mean with full and complete victory by the coalition.
18 posted on 03/26/2003 3:41:55 PM PST by xp38
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To: EaglesUpForever
All the Powell bashers should now see which side he's on...

While I had no doubt, except perhaps in his going to the UN, what choice does he have?

I mean, the Palistinians were planning his assassination, the French tried to sneak one up his derrier and just about everyone on the UN security council declared him a fool and rebuffed him when he presented evidence of WMD's before him.

Hell, I'm surprised the guy hasn't wrung somebody's neck by now.

19 posted on 03/26/2003 3:43:01 PM PST by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Kay Soze
Colin Powell said this?

Its the same Coli Powell that is the Secretary of State?

I think we are hearing a man who has seen some of our troops being brutally executed and doesn't like it one bit, SOS position be damned.

20 posted on 03/26/2003 3:45:42 PM PST by CatOwner
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