Can US Win NATO's Total Support in War on Iraq?

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Can US Win NATO's Total Support in War on Iraq?

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After the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Sunday broke a month-long impasse over a plan to defend alliance member Turkey in case of a US-led war on Iraq, the question of whether the United States can win total NATO support as it did in fighting regional wars in the past has become a highly concerning issue.

In a signed article published on Tuesday, the China Youth Daily, a popular Chinese newspaper, analyzed various aspects of this issue noting the following points of view:

NATO Secretary-General George Robertson told reporters at a late-night press conference on Sunday that the Defense Planning Committee of NATO clinched an agreement on providing military support to Turkey in case of a US-led war on Iraq.

Under the agreement, NATO could provide AWACS surveillance planes to Turkey for reconnoitering, early warning and safeguarding the integrity of Turkey's territorial air space.

The agreement voiced NATO's support for the possible deployment of Patriot theater missile defenses and Allied chemical and biological defense capabilities in Turkey.

It also reiterated that NATO would do what was in accordance with the purpose of the United Nations, and would not use forces or threaten to use forces in dealing with international issues.

All the 18 members of the Defense Planning Committee agreed on support for the United Nation's efforts for a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue.

The Defense Planning Committee consists of 18 NATO members but excludes France. France, largely unsatisfied with peace under the rule of the United States, withdrew from the Defense Planning Committee, NATO's integrated military command, in 1966 when President Charles de Gaulle was in power. The country has not resumed membership in the Defense Planning Committee since.

During the Cold War era, the US, in an effort to avoid French opposition, often got NATO defense affairs decided by voting in the Defense Planning Committee without France. But since the end of the Cold War era, the alliance has chosen to make important decisions through its top decision-making North Atlantic Council, apparently to iron out differences with Paris.

According to public opinions reported by international news media, the alliance managed this time to reach compromise on defending Turkey in case of a US-led war against Iraq by convening a special session of the Defense Planning Committee, as formerly done, apparently to get around the obstacle of French opposition.

Over the past month, France has mounted tough opposition to the US war plan against Iraq and has won support from two of its close neighbors -- Germany and Belgium. This made the North Atlantic Council unable to reach a consensus on Washington's motion on helping defend Turkey over the past few days, making Uncle Sam quite unhappy.

So, can the agreement of the Defense Planning Committee satisfy the White House and enable it to take advantage of total NATO support in a possible war against Baghdad, as it did in regional wars in the past?

Certainly, the matter would not be so simple.

"Alliance solidarity has prevailed," said NATO Secretary-General George Robertson when commenting on the agreement. "We have been able collectively to overcome the impasse." Despite such statements by Robertson, it is undeniable that the deal was reached through painful compromises.

Although Germany and Belgium eventually dropped their objections to the US proposal to begin planning to help fortify Turkey in case of a US-led war on Iraq, they did not stop challenging the United States on the issue.

Belgium threw a last-minute wrench into the works by insisting that any possible NATO deployment in Turkey must be approved by the UN Security Council. The final statement rejected this Belgian position, but underlined that the alliance would "continue to support efforts in the United Nations to find a peaceful solution to the crisis."

After the meeting, Germany, France and Belgium immediately issued a joint declaration, saying that not all alternatives to force had been "fully exploited."

The accord "does not in any way prejudge ongoing efforts" to work within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 to reach a peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis, said the declaration.

On the other side, Britain, Spain, Italy and other European countries that have lent support to the United States on military actions against Iraq are also under huge pressure.

At present, the idea of European integration has struck root in the hearts of the people. Especially when facing serious problems in the fields of diplomacy and security, European countries have consistently and actively made efforts to speak with one voice. However, the holding of the emergency meeting of the Defense Planning Committee will contribute to further angering the French and therefore widening the rift among European countries on the issue of Iraq.

While continuing to push forward the cause of toppling the government of Saddam Hussein, the United States, obviously, does not wish to become hostile to France, Germany and other European allies because of Iraq.

Recently, US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said that Washington is not interested in gaining revenge on France or other allies, and is not willing to see an internal dispute within NATO evolve into a street fight between the United States and France and between the United States and Germany.

While the international community is striving to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis, the United States insists ona military solution. As any military solution to the Iraq crisis will bring serious challenges and do great harm to the interests of other countries as well as peace and the stability of the world, it will not be easy for the United States to win total NATO support in a possible war on Iraq this time.

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