| Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said there was no discussion with Powell about a possible deadline for Iraqi compliance or any consequences that could ensue. "The EU has a common perception and position of the absolute necessity of bringing the weapons inspectors back into Iraq as soon as possible and without conditions. Let's take these things step-by-step," he said after the meeting with Powell. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly debate which opened Thursday with a speech by President Bush who said Saddam Hussein must disarm "or action will be unavoidable." According to a senior European diplomat who also attended the meeting with Powell Friday, the secretary of state stressed that Bush's speech was not a declaration of war, a welcome assurance for the EU foreign ministers who want the United States to work through the United Nations to resolve the crisis with Iraq. In their speeches to the General Assembly Friday, both Japan's Junichiro Koizumi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi also came out in favor of U.N. action on Iraq. The United States and the United Nations were eager to gauge world reaction to Bush's speech on Iraq. So far, America's allies have responded positively, but all eyes will be on Russia and China - two veto-wielding countries whose views on Iraq could make or break Security Council support for any U.S. action against Saddam. Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said "the Iraqi issue should be resolved within the framework of the United Nations." "The relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions should be abided by in an earnest manner," Tang said, according to a report by the official Xinhua News Agency. Diplomats generally agree something must be done with Iraq but Annan said he opposed any pre-emptive action without Security Council backing - a concern expressed by many countries, including close U.S. allies. Sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait cannot be lifted until U.N. inspectors certify that its weapons of mass destruction have been destroyed. Inspectors left the country four years ago without making that certification and in advance of U.S. and British airstrikes designed to force Iraq to cooperate with the inspections program. Since then, Iraq has refused to allow inspectors to return and the stalemate has badly split the Security Council several times. |
Now, as long as there's no foot-draging on Capitol Hill regarding their vote, then everything should be going sweetly for a Nov/Dec war.
Fascinating times. Fascinating strategy. The Chinese will respect Bush, but will they also want him hamstrung? Be interesting to watch their contributions to the "resolutions".