U.S. President Bush challenged France and two other allies Monday to reverse course and allow NATO to make plans to defend Turkey against Iraq. He also accused Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein of "trying to stall for time" by offering last-minute concessions.
"I think it affects the alliance in a negative way when you are not able to make a statement of mutual defense," Bush said.
Bush said France was a longtime friend of the United States, but he said the decision was shortsighted. "I hope they'll reconsider," he said.
"If Turkey is ever attacked, we will stand at its side, that is not an issue here," Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said at a news conference in Brussels. "At issue is, are we at a logical point where we are at war?"
"Saddam Hussein has to disarm. If he doesn't, we will disarm him," Bush said after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
"Upset is not the proper word," Bush said when reporters asked for his views on France's diplomacy. "I am disappointed that France would block NATO from helping a country like Turkey to prepare," he said.
Earlier Monday in a speech, Bush denounced Saddam as the true enemy of Iraq's people. He said the Iraqi leader regards them as "human shields, entirely expendable when their suffering serves his purpose."
The president dismissed efforts by Saddam to avert war by allowing U-2 surveillance planes to fly above Iraq and to permit interviews of scientists. "This is a man who is trying to stall for time," he said. "The reason we need to fly U-2 flights is they're not disarming."
Bush noted that some have called for more U.N. inspectors in Iraq. He dismissed that assertion, saying "one or two" inspectors would be enough if Saddam was not hiding his weapons.
"Saddam Hussein has broken every promise to disarm. He has shown complete contempt for the international community," Bush declared.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
