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S P E C I A L: The Standoff with Iraq U.S. gives diplomacy last-ditch effort in Iraq crisis
Latest developments:
Clinton speaking at the National Defense University January 29, 1998
- 'Sometimes force ... is the only answer'
- 'We hope the Iraqis will have good sense'
- Lavish party at suspected weapons site
- Butler's comments draw fire
- U.N. may let Iraq sell more oil
Web posted at: 7:18 p.m. EDT (1918 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright began her diplomatic mission in Europe Thursday, while President Clinton and other officials worked the telephones in an effort to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.
Clinton spoke Thursday with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and was also planning to talk with French President Jacques Chirac. Earlier in the week, Clinton spoke with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
But in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington, Clinton also indicated again his willingness to use force.
CNN's Peter Arnett reports.
"As president, the hardest decision I ever have to make is to put our troops in harm's way," he said. "Force can never be the first answer, but sometimes, still, it is the only answer."
White House spokesman Mike McCurry said Clinton would make calls to other world leaders in the coming days over what McCurry called Iraq's "flouting" of U.N. resolutions regarding its weapons of mass destruction.
"It's clear the United States government is consulting on the utility of diplomacy at this point, and whether or not through diplomacy we can achieve the objectives that we have," McCurry said.
Earlier Thursday, Defense Secretary William Cohen said Clinton wants a diplomatic resolution, which he said is Albright's goal as she meets with U.S. allies in Europe.
"The window is still open, but the opening is narrowing," Cohen told reporters. Cohen said the administration would like to "avoid any need for military action. That is our hope."
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers drafted a resolution urging the president to "take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." But it was unclear whether lawmakers would vote on the measure soon, or after the weekend.
Elsewhere:
'We hope the Iraqis have good sense'
Albright and French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine In Paris, Albright dined Thursday evening with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and discussed Iraq's continued refusal to allow U.N. arms inspectors access to sensitive sites.
Before Albright's arrival, Vedrine and Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov met and repeated their appeals for further diplomatic efforts. Albright is to meet Friday with Primakov in Madrid, and then go to London for talks with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.
Albright said her intention was not to convince anyone to change their mind, but to explain fully the U.S. position. She said the United States is prepared to unleash its formidable naval and air power without international backing, if necessary.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should know, she said, "that there are no excuses left here."
After her meeting with Vedrine, Albright said, "I'm not into the ultimatum business right now." But she added what is by now a familiar warning:
"It is important that Saddam Hussein listen to what is said here and in the next few days and understands our determination to make sure the Security Council resolutions are abided by" and that arms inspectors be granted "unfettered access" to all sites.
Primakov, after meeting with Vedrine, told reporters he doubted that a military strike against Iraq could be averted.
"We hope the Iraqis will have sufficient good sense to find a way out of the situation," he said.
Lavish party at suspected weapons site
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein In Baghdad, Hussein railed against U.S. talk of air strikes, calling it "an aggression against the will of God" and said that while he hoped hostilities could be avoided, Iraq would use all its resources to resist.
His tirade against the United States came as Ramadan ended with the three-day holiday known as Eid al-Fitr, a time of feasting and celebration for Muslims after a month of abstinence and prayer.
The Iraqi government threw a party for diplomats at an opulent palace on Lake Therthar, 60 miles northwest of Baghdad. The palace is one of eight presidential sites that Iraq has prevented U.N. arms inspectors from visiting.
Diplomats said a full tour was given along with a buffet meal hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. They described the complex as "sumptuous" and the food as "good," although one dismissed the expansive villa as an "overpriced palace."
One diplomat said an Iraqi official told him the U.N. inspectors claim chemical and biological material is being produced there, but the diplomats said they were allowed to visit every part of the palace and saw nothing resembling a weapons facility.
Butler's comments draw fire
In New York, chief U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler defended himself Thursday against criticism by Iraq and members of the Security Council that he spoke out of turn by saying Baghdad had the capability to "blow away Tel Aviv."
"We have been looking for some time for some special warheads," Butler said. "I've reported that to the Security Council. I've discussed it with Iraq. They know very well there are a number of outstanding special warheads that were filled with chemical and biological weapons."
Butler was quoted Tuesday in The New York Times as saying that Iraq had enough biological material such as anthrax and botulin toxin to "blow away Tel Aviv."
On Thursday, a spokesman said Butler had been referring to what the experts have known of Iraq's previous weapons capability. Butler's comments didn't represent any new information, but had been an "extrapolation," of old information, he said.
Iraq sharply rebuked Butler Wednesday, saying he was "biased and blindly committing mistakes, deadly mistakes."
Russia and France, both members of the Security Council, also complained, saying the article contained information they said Butler hadn't told them in their regular briefings.
"All the rhetoric is one thing," Butler said as he left U.N. headquarters and prepared for a previously scheduled trip to Bonn, Germany. "But this thing has been a long outstanding problem fully understood in accordance with the Security Council."
U.N. may let Iraq sell more oil
And in Davos, Switzerland, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would recommend that Iraq be allowed to sell more than the $2 billion worth of oil it is currently allowed in its oil-for-food deal.
Annan declined to say what his recommendation would be, but said the recommendation would "lead to improvements in the situation" in Iraq, where malnutrition and illness caused by economic sanctions are serious problems.
Correspondents Peter Arnett and Jamie McIntyre and Reuters contributed to this report.
Iraq Standoff Main | Latest Stories | Message BoardRelated stories:
- Albright to begin Iraq talks with U.S. allies - January 29, 1998
- Iraq lashes out at chief U.N. weapons inspector - January 28, 1998
- U.S. to Iraq: Diplomacy 'running out' - January 28, 1998
- France, Russia oppose using force in Iraqi crisis - January 28, 1998
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