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NATO debates support for U.S.
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- NATO ministers are resuming a debate on the sensitive subject of what support to give any United States-led war in Iraq. The meeting, the day after U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement to the U.N., is taking place on Thursday in Brussels. (Full story) It follows a similar gathering last month in which the alliance was unable to agree on an initial U.S. request for a wide range of support, including possible post-war humanitarian and peacekeeping tasks. The request, made on January 15, also included NATO member nations playing a role in post-conflict peacekeeping or humanitarian operations in Iraq. The request has been narrowed down to a minimum number of measures focussing on the defence of Turkey, but France and Germany are likely to remain obstacles. Diplomats told Reuters that the ambassadors would be asked to authorise allied military authorities to begin planning to send air defence missiles and early warning aircraft to Turkey. Actual deployment would require a further council decision, they said. At the earlier meeting, Paris and Berlin argued that any NATO war preparations would be premature while U.N. arms inspectors were trying to check whether Iraq had rid itself of weapons of mass destruction. France and Germany, as well as Belgium and Luxembourg, blocked the request again last week, angering Washington. NATO Secretary-General George Robertson has played down disunity among NATO allies, saying all agreed that Baghdad must get rid of its alleged chemical and biological weapons. He said on Wednesday: "There is no argument inside NATO on the substance of these proposals. "The simple issue at stake is a question of when the timing starts and how that might affect the U.N. process."
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