Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(October 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Current position of previous coalition members
, with respect to military action against Iraq.
 With
respect to President George Bush’s attempts to get
the previous coalition members, who supported America in
Gulf War One, back into the fold for his war against Saddam
Hussein, (It’s not politically correct to say the
war against the Iraqi people), the following table stating
the current position of previous coalition members is tabulated
below.
-
Australia: May give consideration
to the provision troops if the United States requests
assistance
-
Bahrain: Key ally of the United States
in the Gulf and a key element in any attack on Iraq.
Bahrain King, Sheikh al-Khalifa has expressed determined
opposition to any unilateral military action by the
United States against Iraq.
-
Canada: Has so far indicated that
it will not provide troops for a war against Iraq.
-
China: Like Russia has veto power
and is not expected to support a military campaign against
Iraq.
-
Egypt: Supports the unconditional
return of weapons inspectors to Iraq but President Mubarak
has stated that the Americans must first find a solution
to the Israeli/Palestinian crisis.
-
France: Has backed the return of
weapons inspectors but has serious reservations with
respect to an attack on Iraq.
-
Germany: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
has been quoted as saying : ”Under my leadership
Germany will not be available for adventures.”
Note: Germany provided financial aid but no troops in
Gulf War One.
-
Iran: Would like to see Saddam Hussein
deposed but fears that the United States attack on Iraq
is part of a strategic plan to gain more influence in
the gulf region, and also questions whether they may
be the next target of what they see as American aggression.
-
Israel: Supports the US policy of
a regime change in Iraq and has repeatedly called for
President Bush not to delay action against Iraq.
-
Japan: Is banned under its pacifist
constitution from force to settle International disputes.
-
Jordan: Large Palestinian population
and a border with Iraq requires that Jordan vigorously
oppose any military action against Iraq. King Abdullah,
in concert with President Mubarak of Egypt, argues that
priority should be given to the settlement of the Palestinian/Israeli
conflict in order to alleviate the situation in the
Middle East before starting a war against one of his
neighbors.
-
Kuwait: For obvious reasons is the
strongest regional supporter of plans to topple Saddam
Hussein.
-
Qatar: Will provide a major base for
an American war against Iraq, but would prefer a diplomatic
solution.
-
Russia: Believes that a new resolution
is not necessary and currently does not support an attack
on Iraq. Maybe a bargaining point would be if the United
States turns a blind eye to Russia’s attacks on
Chechen rebels.
One more point of note: Russia has veto power in the
United Nations.
-
Saudi Arabia: May support United
States military action to remove Saddam Hussein, but
is reluctant to allow the United States to use airbases
on Saudi Arabia soil for a strike against Iraq
-
Syria: Highly unlikely to support
any action against Iraq as it views military action
by the United States as part of an attempt to install
puppet regimes in the region to serve United States
and Israeli interests
-
Turkey: Allows US and British planes
involved in the No Fly Zone over northern Iraq, to use
its bases, but is very hesitant to participate in an
invasion of Iraq.
-
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Tony
Blair has promised full cooperative support and participation
with the United States in a war with Iraq but does not
have the full support of the British people for this
action.
If my mathematics are correct, there currently are four
yes votes, (including the United States and UK), twelve
declining Nations, and three maybes.
Comment:
 The
United States arrogant dismissal of European concern with
respect to the United States go-it-alone attitude to a confrontation
with Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi people, received a severe
blow when the German people elected Gerhard Schroeder of
the Socialist Democratic party as Chancellor.
Schroeder, who ran on an election platform of his declared
intent to keep Germany out of any military fray against
Iraq, may unite the nations of Europe in opposition to the
United States war intentions.
As I have said a number of times before, let's hope that
history doesn’t prove that George Bush, Tony Blair
and the State of Israel were correct in their statements
that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction and
intends to use them at the earliest opportunity.
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