Interim Iraqi prime minister asks NATO to play bigger role

RealCities.com/Knight Ridder ^ | 6/23/04 | Jonathan S. Landay - Knight Ridder

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Iraq's interim prime minister has formally asked NATO to do more to help stabilize his violence-wracked country by training its nascent security forces.

Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's request comes in advance of the NATO summit Monday and Tuesday in Istanbul, Turkey, and could help President Bush in his efforts to win a greater NATO commitment in Iraq.

The 26-member NATO alliance provides only logistical support to a Polish-commanded multinational division in south-central Iraq. Bush has sought a larger alliance role to help relieve the overstretched U.S. military.

The administration has warned that it's in the world's interest to avoid a civil war that could shatter Iraq along ethnic and religious lines and sow anarchy across the oil-rich Middle East.

NATO members France and Germany, which led international opposition to the 2003 invasion, have rejected calls for NATO to take command of the 160,000-strong U.S.-led multinational force. Their opposition is critical because NATO makes decisions by consensus.

[NormsRevenge]

I thought Kerry had strong connections to the continent,, couldn't he ask the appeasment crowd and previous Iraqi plunderers to go along? I'm sure he could persuade Jacque and Gerhard... and help his country's President in this time of great peril.

OOPs! I forgot , it's an election year. Never mind. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

A penny rich widow for your thoughts, JF'nK.