Powell: 30 Nations in Anti-Iraq Coalition

AP ^ | 03/18/03 | BARRY SCHWEID

[nypokerface]

WASHINGTON - Thirty nations have joined with the United States in a "coalition of the willing" to bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and another 15 quietly have promised their support, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.

Powell told reporters he had received assurances of open support in telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin had reaffirmed his opposition to war with Iraq in a telephone conversation with President Bush.

At the same time, Powell said Saddam Hussein so far had rejected Bush's demand that he leave Iraq, but that a number of countries were still trying to persuade the Iraqi president to go into exile.

"He has essentially dismissed the message," Powell said.

Asked when the United States may go to war against Iraq, the former Army general said he had "learned long ago not to make predictions."

The State Department released a list of the 30 countries, one of which, Japan, was identified as only a post-conflict member of the coalition.

Turkey was included, and Powell said even as the Turkish parliament debates a U.S. proposal to use Turkish territory for an invasion of northern Iraq he was confident of Turkish cooperation in one form or another.

Powell also hinted that if the parliament accepts the U.S. proposal the Bush administration might revive its offer of $6 billion in special economic assistance.

Powell said war plans have been drawn up designed to minimize Iraqi civilian casualties and to warn Iraqi commanders about their actions. He said the U.S. aim was "to make it as quick as possible."

Powell also said he would not attend a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday at which the chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is due to make a report.

France and Russia, which opposed war and sought to extend inspections, have indicated they would be represented by their foreign ministers.

But Powell said he saw no point in going, and that U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte would represent the United States.

[AlextheWise1]

We cannot fail now that Eritrea is on our side

[JoeMerchant]

G Man,

During that Fox report last night, was I imagining things, or did one of the reporters say that we had 10 votes on the Sec. Counsel last week for Res. #18 but held off because of the French veto?

Did anyone here this? If it's true, why isn't anyone in the administration pushing this point?

JM

[Blood of Tyrants]

Portugal has announce neutrality, supporting nor opposing either side.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Miss Marple]

I don't know if a reporter said it, but I defnitely heard the British ambassador to the UN say so. He said that once France went public with their veto, the nations backed off, because with public support lagging in theier own countries, "they did not want to bear a cross to no purpose."

[AlextheWise1]

How is this a pathetic coalition?

Most of the worlds combat power is with us.

[Aaron0617]

Nicaragua?

They're letting us use their airspace.

[AlextheWise1]

How is this a pathetic coalition?

Most of the worlds combat power is with us.

[DannyTN]

"this one of the most pathetic coalitions of all time, 30 or not.

Lets see it's 32 with Portugal and America. And I don't see mention of Kuwait which is the staging ground or for that matter Qatar or Saudi Arabia.

What did you expect a coalition of 10 America's??? So you think the coalition would be better if Irrelefrance was sucking on our backside?

[JoeMerchant]

Thanks Miss Marple.

I heard it once, and then did not hear it repeated. Mixed in with all the other news I thought I was starting to hear things.

Someone should throw that fact in Tom Daschle's face!

JM

[TheBattman]

Eritrea

Who? where is that????

[Diddle E. Squat]

US, GB, and Australia, which helps because of the common language. Poland and Ukraine sending support troops, perhaps other countries.

[tentmaker]

right - Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAR are all supporting us in some manner and are all members of OPEC.

[Southern Federalist]

Powell also said he would not attend a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday .... France and Russia have indicated they would be represented by their foreign ministers. But Powell said he saw no point in going...

A League of Nations moment for the UN, brought to them by the leading multilateralist in the US government. Welcome to the future, Koffi & co.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If only we could get the Duchy of Grand Fenwick on our side.

[Chances Are]

Would you care to enunciate other wartime coalitions you regard as being less "pathetic"?

CA....

[theophilusscribe]

We'll just have to pass the Duchy on the lefthand side.

[Chances Are]

I understand we are working on that angle even as we speak!

CA....

[AlextheWise1]

Eritrea is a country the size of pennsylvania on the red sea. Now that I looked it up it ay actually be usefull as a naval stop or something.

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/er.html

[Sangamon Kid]

Most of the worlds combat power is with us.

Remove America and what do you have?