Posted on 03/15/2002 6:27:56 PM PST by Pokey78
Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, yesterday brought into the open the growing rift between Britain and continental Europe over taking the "war on terror" to Iraq when he signalled he had no intention of participating in any unilateral military action launched against Baghdad by the United States.
In a move that highlighted the breach between Tony Blair and his European partners, Mr Schröder's spokeswoman confirmed a report that Germany would only join in a broadening of the US-led "war on terror" if the action were backed by the United Nations. "It's a position of principle of which our American partners are also aware," she said.
Further looming problems were underlined yesterday when Turkey, a key member of Nato - whose bases could be needed for military operations - argued that Saddam Hussein did not constitute a threat to his neighbours. Saudi Arabia has also made clear its opposition to use of its bases.
Mr Schröder's reported remarks chimed with the sceptical stance adopted by Paris. French government sources said Mr Schröder was "pretty much in line" with their view.
"Any kind of military operation should of course exist within that existing UN framework. France agreed to support the US attacks in Afghanistan after September 11 because the situation was new, there was clear proof that al-Qaida was operating there. The country had been warned, and the strikes were targeted. Iraq is different. It is not new."
Mr Schröder's new stance, that existing UN resolutions were insufficient to justify an attack, is in marked contrast to the increasingly hawkish noises emanating from London about a possible strike on Saddam. It also offered a focus for other continental European leaders known to be uneasy about the possible consequences of an attack on Iraq.
In its two most recent major campaigns - Afghanistan and Kosovo - the US has avoided UN involvement, preferring to work with Nato or through impromptu coalitions, of which Britain has consistently been at the forefront.
Speaking in Barcelona following a meeting between Mr Blair and Mr Schröder, the prime minister's spokesman did little to disguise the differences saying: "People may come at that discussion from different perspectives, but they share the goal."
British sources believe a return to the UN for a specific mandate for military action would end in failure, largely due to Russian opposition.
The Foreign Office minister Ben Bradshaw came close last week to telling MPs that military action could be launched without any specific UN endorsement. "The legal view, with which I have some sympathy, is that Iraq is in flagrant breach, not just of UN resolutions, but of the ceasefire agreement that it entered into at the end of the Gulf war."
The British government has long argued that Iraq is in breach of as many as seven UN resolutions, but also said it will wait to see if Iraq picks up a deal on a new sanctions regime in return for the reintroduction of the UN weapons inspectors. Mr Blair has also said he believes Iraq is in breach of resolution 687 on getting rid of weapons of mass destruction.
The threat of an assault on Iraq has caused jitters on the back benches with 117 Labour MPs, including former ministers, now backing an early day motion opposing any war.
President Bush identified Iraq as one of three countries whose suspected development of weapons of mass destruction made them a danger to the US. Iran and North Korea were also named as making up the so-called axis of evil.
But it is Iraq that has become the focus of speculation as to the next phase in the US campaign to forestall another September 11-style attack.
I have had a hard time believing that Great Britain would cast its lot with the EU. The Brits are every bit as rebellious as we are and don't take kindly to ultimatums.
"The blindness of the American leadership elite is diminishing the role of the United States as the leader of the Western world,and is offering the Soviets fresh openings enabling them to manipulate erroneous and naive perceptions of 'perestroika', to the detriment of the Western alliances. The distinction between the US vision of an enlarged Europe based upon Western values, and the Soviet vision of a neutral socialist Europe stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals, has been completely lost from sight..."
"BERLIN (AP) -- Former communists will help run city government in Berlin for the first time since Germany was reunited under an accord reached Thursday.
The Social Democrats and the Party of Democratic Socialism agreed on the main points of a coalition giving the ex-communists their first share of power in the German capital since reunification in 1990..."
"US Policymakers have recklessly accepted the premise the Russia and China are no longer their enemies, but are rather potential allies and partners fully deserving of US support. Only countries like Iran, Iraq and North Korea - which (ironically, in this context) work secretly with Russia and China - are still considered potential adversaries..."
"US Policymakers should urgently re-examine their assumptions about the 'progress' of Russia and China 'towards democracy'. They should take account of Sino-Russian strategy and should recognize that the long-term strategic, political and economic threat comes from a Sino-Russian axis and associated participants like North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The Russian and Chinese leaders are still committed to their objective of world domination and believe that, disguised as 'democrats', in accordance with Leninist teaching, they will be able to achieve it."
You are known by the enemies you have.
"16 out of 17 of the AMERICANS that were involved in creating the U . N. were later identified, in sworn testimony, as secret communist agents.
The first Secretary General was the AMERICAN Alger Hiss. Alger Hiss served time in prison pursuant to his involvement in a Communist spy ring..."
The beef comes from sick European cows.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.