From BBC.com Iraq says it will send emissaries to Europe to rally support against the threat of an American attack. The Iraqi vice president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, says the emissaries will explain, as he put it, how America is threatening world peace and security. The announcement comes after the European Union called on Iraq to allow back UN weapons inspectors. The EU has also made it clear it wants differences with Iraq to be resolved through diplomacy rather than war. Rallying support Iraq's strategy at the moment is to try to gain as much support as possible. It can see that Europe is alarmed by all the American talk about a military campaign to topple Saddam Hussein's regime. So now Baghdad wants to widen the gap between the Europeans and the Americans. Mr Ramadan praised Germany and France for the vocal opposition of their leaders to unilateral US action against Iraq. He made no response, however, to the key European demand for Iraq to allow back, immediately, UN weapons inspectors. Mr Ramadan said last week that there was no point in admitting the inspectors, since the US would attack anyway. Analysts, however, say that Baghdad is probably saving the return of the inspectors as a last card to play, if it became clear that war was imminent. Its main focus now is to obtain the support of other countries. The Iraqi foreign minister has just been in China, where he secured its opposition to a US strike. In the coming days, he will visit Russia and attend, in Egypt, an Arab foreign ministers' meeting, where he can expect strong expressions of support for his country. ------------ Would anyone be surprised if they were helped by a Euro country?
I think that country would fear some major backlash from the US. Sure these countries will say they are opposed to a US attack, but until Saddam allows UN inspectors back in, nobody will really support him. He is just stalling to hide his weapons.
This is all part of Bush's plan. You see, we really aren't going to war with Iraq. We are just threatening in a <i>major</i> way! One way or another, Saddam has to reach out to other countires (whether they are Western European, Russia, China, or Middle Eastern) to rally support. The only way that support is going to come is if Saddam comes to his senses and realizes the world will let Iraq live in peace without sanctions if Saddam agrees to some simple, reasonable terms. It's really just a game of good cop/bad cop (with the U.S. being the bad cop).
frankly, we have no reason to go into iraq. does anybody watch the daily show? they do joke, but they actually are a better news source then cnn. they tell it to you like it is, and they had a scott ritter, a former weapon inpector on, saying as how we shouldnt move against them seeing as they havent done anything and what bush and co. is talking about is bs.
jello77, The question for Ritter is, how can he know, with certainty, what the Iraqis have been doing for the years that the inspectors have not been there? How can he know better than the CIA? I don't know what the Iraqis are up to, but based on their history of using weapons of mass destruction and there attempt on the life of Bush Sr., I put nothing past them. I don't know why Ritter is so certain that there is no threat; I think his confidence is missplaced.
<b>.....The EU has also made it clear it wants differences with Iraq to be resolved through diplomacy rather than war......</b> They already did the diplomacy part at Safwan in 1991. Nothing for Saddam to discuss or renegotiate......just do his part of the deal.
The problem is, in the court of public opinion the statute of limitations is about 6 months. IMHO, it apears that Saddam seems to have done an exceptional job of outplanning his gulf war foes. He's outlasted the European public's memory of his obligations through obfuscation and subterfuge. Politicians always think of everything they do in much the same way that writers develop a plot, and without some major 'plot device' to bring action against him, an attack will by default be seen as an act of aggression among the apathetic, idealists sitting somewhere uninvolved. They need some sort of 'plot device' in the form of a piece of damning evidence or such in order to persue action in that direction. I guess I could see Russia, which has one foot in Europe offering some sort of passive support in the form of humanitarian aid, or something, but I guarantee you that no country in Europe will actively support Saddam. I think you are perhaps bluring the line between those who agree that Saddam is an evil b*stard that can be contained to the middle east through diplomicy, and those that think he is an evil b*stard that must be attacked. Even people like the German Chancellor, who's position is very much against a war with Iraq, wouldn't suggest that Saddam is a nice guy, or a good neighbor, or anything.
This is somewhat humorous. The decision has already been made... Carry on. UNSC Resolution 687 - all the legal justification one could ever need. BTW...
<b>.....Would anyone be surprised if they were helped by a Euro country.....</b> There is substantial overlap between NATO membership and EU memberhsip.......so doubt any country from those two groups. Russia tried its best to save its client state (Iraq) during the standoff prior to the actual fighting during the Gulf War. Russia still didn't send a division to supplement Iraqi military forces, so doubtful that they would do it now. Ottomaton, I doubt that Saddam did long range planning on this situation.......I view it more as an improv type of action.
Who the **** cares what the EU says. Lets blow the hell outta Iraq. I don't really care to be the victim of some chemical attack.
