US allies reluctant to join an assault on Iraq

The United States administration is still talking about war against 
Iraq, even though a number of its recent allies are very reluctant to start 
bombing Iraq.

There is no provision in international law for pre-emptive attacks and Iraq 
does not pose a serious threat to Europe or the US. Any escalation of the 
bombing of Iraq could have serious implications for trade with Middle East 
and other predominantly Muslim countries.

Despite a monumental brainwashing exercise in the mass media about the 
desirability and inevitability of a massive assault on Iraq, many 
governments see it as a risky and self-serving US adventure.

Britain and Australia seem to be the staunchest supporters of the US.

Resistance to the war in Britain is growing and may yet force Tony Blair 
into rethinking his unconditional support for George W Bush's adventure. A 
recent opinion poll in Britain reported that a majority (52 per cent) of 
British voters are hostile to UK forces being involved in an attack on 
Iraq.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, a key Arab ally of the United States, said 
recently that it would be a "tremendous mistake" for the United States to 
brush off warnings from its allies against war on Iraq.

Germany has declared its unwillingness to be involved. Mr Schroder, the 
leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) indicated that Germany would 
stay out even if the UN gave its blessing to the war.

Addressing the SPD 's election campaign rally in Hanover, Mr Schroder said: 
"We are ready to give solidarity. But this country under my leadership is 
not available for adventure... Our deep scepticism leads us to rejection."

Iraq's bid to reopen high-level talks with the United Nations has been 
written off as a "joke" by those keen on war.

Iraq issued an invitation to the US Congress to send a mission to Baghdad, 
offering free access to any site alleged to be developing weapons of mass 
destruction. The White House dismissed the invitation.

Kofi Annan, the UN General Secretary welcomed the latest offer from Iraq on 
the return of weapons inspectors and asked for specific details. Mr Annan 
also stressed that "it would be unwise to attack Iraq, given the current 
circumstances of what's happening in the Middle East".