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.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

09:24 PST WASHINGTON (AP) -- Following is a list of 30 countries the State Department says are members of a "Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq":

Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.

[kimchi lover]

UNILATERAL??? I think not!

[Sangamon Kid]

And how many are sending troops? When that is used as the criteria, unilateral almost fits.

[The G Man]

Fred Barnes was on Fox last night after the Bush's address and stated this is the 3rd largest military coalition in WORLD HISTORY. Surpassed only by the Persian Gulf War (50 I think) and WWII (47 I think).

[Principled]

We can't have all these countries acting unilaterally! It would be world anarchy!

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Where's Portugal, the host of last weekend's war council (in the Azores)?

[k2blader]

Bump!

[AgentEcho]

Portugal? Where is America in that list? ;)

Æ

[Principled]

And if you just look at Republics with presidents with last names beginning in "Bu...", it most certainly approaches unilateralism!

[sd-joe]

And how many are sending troops? When that is used as the criteria, unilateral almost fits.

We have Briton & Australia plus a few more small contributors. We don't need anyone else. Too many just get in the way.

[Sacajaweau]

How many of these countries were part of the USSR?? My map is out of date.

Maybe putting Germany back together wasn't the right thing for the world.

[Dog Gone]

Nicaragua?

[eyespysomething]

Poland is sending I think 300 troops. Not much, but I wonder how big their military is...

[Sangamon Kid]

Ever see a Great White Shark with remoras attached up and down it's body? We may have 30, but most are parasites/

[Republican Wildcat]

I would think Kuwait should be on that list.

[Principled]

sharks and parasites.... hmmmn...you'll have to clairify..

[Republican Wildcat]

How can it "almost" fit? That makes no sense.

[Sangamon Kid]

sharks and parasites.... hmmmn...you'll have to clairify..

Remoras are parasites (sucker fish) that attach themselves to sharks. They may go into battle, but they're only there because they've been living off the host fish. The point that I'm making is that this one of the most pathetic coalitions of all time, 30 or not.