• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

9873. Cohen Calls for More Allied Support

By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
	MUNICH, Germany -- Defense Secretary William S. Cohen called 
on world allies to help enforce U.N. resolutions against Iraq. 
Failure to do so, he said, undercuts U.N. credibility.
	"The best way to avoid any need to resort to military action 
is for all of our NATO friends and U.N. members, those in the 
U.N. Security Council in particular, to reaffirm their commitment 
to their own resolutions," Cohen said. The secretary was here 
Feb. 6-8 for an annual European security conference. It was his 
first stop on a seven-day trip to Europe and the Middle East.
	Responding to Cohen's rallying cry, German Chancellor Helmut 
Kohl offered his nation's political support during an address 
Feb. 7. "For me it is fully clear that our air bases will be 
available to U.S. forces, if needed," Kohl said.
	Following Kohl's announcement, German Defense Minister 
Volker Ruehe said there is "clear political support" in Germany 
for U.S. and British efforts to prevent Iraq from rebuilding its 
weapons of mass destruction capabilities. "It is clear that 
everybody cares in the same way about the dangers of these 
weapons and the situation in Iraq," Ruehe said. 
	Cohen told reporters he believes other NATO members also 
will support efforts to enforce the resolutions. "It remains to 
be seen what that will be in terms of military support or moral 
support," he said.
	British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the United Kingdom 
will send another eight Tornado aircraft to marry up with the 
carrier HMS Invincible, about 2,500 troops and six Tornados now 
in the Persian Gulf.
	Cohen's call for unity came at a point when the United 
Nations was at a standoff with Iraq over Saddam Hussein's refusal 
to give unfettered access to U.N. weapons inspectors. While 
French, Russian and other international officials were making a 
last ditch effort to reach a diplomatic solution, American and 
British warships and combat aircraft were assembled in the 
Persian Gulf and more were on the way.
	A week earlier, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 
traveled to the region to explain diplomatic efforts to resolve 
the crisis. Cohen's goal was to reassure the gulf states the U.S. 
was prepared to make a substantial military strike if no 
diplomatic solution was found. No more "pinpricks," Cohen 
stressed, but rather a "serious effort."
	U.N. Security Council members should support enforcing the 
resolutions they passed to prevent Saddam Hussein from developing 
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, 
Cohen stressed. "Members who refuse to insist upon full 
compliance give "comfort to those who would undermine the 
process," he said.
	Saddam Hussein is interested in dividing the Security 
Council, Cohen said. "That works to his advantage." Members who 
refuse to acknowledge Hussein has breached his obligations 
undermine efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, he said. 
	There has been sufficient opportunity for a diplomatic 
solution since the crisis began last fall, Cohen noted. Although 
the United States would still like to see a diplomatic solution 
to the standoff, he said, the window of opportunity is closing.
	"Saddam Hussein holds in his hands the key to that 
[diplomatic] solution -- simply open his facilities for 
inspection as he is required to do," Cohen said. 
	Because the Iraqi leader continues to defy the United 
Nations, President Clinton may have to turn to a military option 
-- something the president is "seeking to avoid if possible, but 
will not walk away from if necessary," he said. 


##END##

Marine Corps Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, commander, U.S. Central Command, poses with two Air Force sergeants at Al Jaber Air Base, 69 miles south of Kuwait City, Feb. 9. Linda D. Kozaryn

Defense Secretary William S. Cohen addresses troops at Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. On stage with the secretary Feb. 9 are, from left, Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Carl M. Levin of Michigan and Gen. Saber Al Suidian, commander of Kuwait's air forces. The two Senate Armed Services Committee members traveled with Cohen to six gulf states Feb. 8-11. Linda D. Kozaryn