Rift Between Blair & Bush, U.S. Insists on Regime Change in Iraq
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Blair wants Bush to revive Middle East peace talks before striking Iraq |
NEW
YORK, August 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – A rift between
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President George W. Bush
has appeared over the impending U.S. attack on Iraq. This rift comes
as the U.S. continues to support a regime change in Iraq despite
Baghdad’s indication that they would welcome new U.N. weapons
inspections.
U.K.
daily newspaper, the Telegraph, reported Sunday, August 4, that
Blair is privately urging Bush to call Arab-Israeli peace talks before
any military action against Iraq, but the White House is resisting.
“The
Washington argument is: You can deal with Iraq in a separate box. That
is not the London position,” said a senior Whitehall figure, the
paper reported.
“It
doesn’t mean you cannot do anything until there is a settlement in
the Middle East, but you have to make progress.
“We
want the Americans to say they are going to fix it in the Middle East.
They are capable of doing it, even with [Israeli prime minister Ariel]
Sharon, but they are not doing so.”
Bush
is reluctant to deal with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, having
called for him to be removed from office. However, Blair believes that
the talks are vital to placating moderate Arab opinion in the build-up
of military and diplomatic pressure on Saddam Hussein, the Telegraph
said.
The
diplomatic dispute will fuel objections by Labor MPs to early military
action. It could also raise Iraqi hopes of creating fresh splits
between the U.S. and its allies after the mixed reaction that followed
Saddam’s offer last week of talks on the readmission of U.N. arms
inspectors. That was met with skepticism by the U.K. and the U.S. but
welcomed by France and Russia.
Bush
said Saturday, August 3, that the United States continues to support a
regime change in Iraq and will use all means at its disposal to obtain
it, despite Baghdad’s indication that they would welcome new U.N.
weapons inspections, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
“I
am a patient man,” he said. “I’ll use all the tools at our
disposal. Nothing’s changed.”
Earlier
Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell emphatically rejected
an invitation by Iraq to the chief U.N. weapons inspector to visit
Baghdad to discuss the resumption of inspections halted in December
1998.
The
initiative came amid growing speculation that Bush is considering
military action to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, whose
country has been under crippling sanctions since its invasion of
Kuwait in August 1990.
“Our
task and our responsibility to history is more than just an Al-Qaeda
network. We owe it to the future of civilization not to allow the
world’s worst leaders to develop and deploy, and therefore blackmail
freedom-loving countries with the world’s worst weapons,” Bush
told a political fundraising meeting in a clear reference to Hussein.
“When
it comes to our freedom, America doesn’t quit,” Bush said. “When
it comes to upholding our obligation to future citizens of our
country, we don’t quit. When it comes to chasing down people who
would harm Americans, we don’t quit, much to the chagrin of the
enemy.”
“I’m
a patient man, I’m a patient man,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of
tools at my disposal. But I can assure you, I understand history has
called us into action. And this country will defend freedom no matter
what the cost.”
Powell,
speaking to reporters earlier in Manila, accused Iraqis of attempting
to “change the goalposts” and wriggle out of their obligations.
U.S.
Under Secretary of State John Bolton also said earlier in an interview
with BBC radio that Washington’s goal remained the same, even Saddam
allows back U.N. weapons inspectors, AFP reported.
“Let
there be no mistake. While we also insist on the reintroduction of the
weapons inspectors, our policy at the same time insists on regime
change in Baghdad,” Bolton told the BBC.
“That
policy will not be altered whether the inspectors go in or not,” he
added.
As
Washington stepped up its rhetoric, the foreign ministers of the
United States’ key Gulf ally Saudi Arabia and longtime foe Iran
expressed joint opposition to any U.S. strike action against their
common neighbor.
Meanwhile,
British defense chiefs have told 16 Air Assault Brigade, the only unit
equipped with Apache attack helicopters, to prepare for a strike
against Iraq before Christmas, the Telegraph reported.
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