Canada supports War

[Sputty]

WASHINGTON - After getting a taste of what the White House says is new evidence against Iraq, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham reiterated Canada's position that the United Nations should decide what to do next.


INDEPTH: Iraq


Bill Graham and Colin Powell
(AP PHOTO)
Graham made the comments Thursday, after a brief meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington.

The foreign affairs minister refused to comment directly on the latest American intelligence, which Powell intends to present to the Security Council Feb. 5. The White House insists that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction and poses a threat to global peace.

"I think what the secretary told me was that he intends to make a persuasive case that Iraq must be compelled to disarm, and Iraq has to understand that if it does not disarm there will be consequences for its failure to disarm," Graham said.

He bristled when some reporters asked him how Ottawa felt about some Americans' perceptions that Canada is "wobbly" about backing its ally in the possible use of force.

Graham said the countries are allies because of their "mutual respect" for one another, including the right to follow the course each thinks is best.

Canada believes there is a danger to global security when any government takes unilateral military action, and Graham stressed that Ottawa is pleased the White House has taken its deep concerns about Iraq to the UN.

"We believe that Iraq has to know from the world community that it must disarm," Graham said. "We all agree that if it fails to disarm the United Nations will have to take its responsibility to make sure that Resolution 1441 is enforced."


FROM JAN. 29, 2003: Chr�tien waffling on Iraq, says opposition
Powell told reporters that he is familiar with Canada's position, and that ideally the UN will side with Washington.

"I think Canada is committed to the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction," Powell said, standing next to Graham. "And we all hope that it can be done with the support of the international community."

Powell said he gave Graham a "foretaste" of what the U.S. intends to tell the Security Council next week.

On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, a few senators expressed annoyance that some of America's allies appear reluctant to back military action against Iraq � including Sen. Joseph Biden, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

During testimony before the committee, deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage agreed.

"There are some leaders, as you suggest � who do not want to lead," Armitage said.

In his state of the union address on Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush said the United States is prepared to take military action on its own when the security of Americans is at stake.

On Thursday, Bush met with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who supports a firm stand against Iraq, and once again warned allies that he does not intend to give Saddam much more time to comply with UN resolutions.

"This is a matter of weeks not months," Bush said.
www.cbc.ca