US denied airspace for Iraq war

AMERICAN Special Forces will not be allowed to use Irish airspace or airports during any attack on Iraq.

A Government official said the administration supports UN diplomatic efforts to defuse the growing crisis, but was against an all-out war.

The Government’s position was outlined last night as speculation mounted that the US, backed by Britain, is preparing an attack designed to oust Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. This is in spite of growing disquiet among the United States’ other European allies, including France and Germany.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made clear his total support for the robust stance adopted by US President George W Bush, who wants to topple the regime in Iraq.

The US has condemned Saddam Hussein’s government for its support of international terror and the alleged continued development of weapons of mass destruction such as nerve gas, anthrax and nuclear weaponry.

However, there is little support in Europe for an all-out attack on Iraq. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday appealed to President Bush not to risk fracturing the post September 11 alliance against world terrorism. He said he had grave reservations about an attack on Iraq at this stage.

“It would be less easily understood as an act of defence and could destroy the international alliance against terror,” Chancellor Schroeder said.

Saudi Arabia has also made it clear to Washington that the US will not be allowed to use the kingdom’s soil for any attack on Iraq, Foreign Minister Prince Saud said yesterday.

A long-time ally of the US, it said it had no problem with the US continuing to monitor the Iraqi skies from the US air control centre in the kingdom, but it did not want them to use Saudi grounds.

“We are against any attack on Iraq because we believe it is not needed, especially now that Iraq is moving to implement UN resolutions,” he said.

Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs said the issue should not be seen as one in which sides must be chosen, for the moment at least.

A spokesman said the Government backed UN secretary general Kofi Annan’s call on Iraq to give unconditional access to independent arms inspectors, but did not support an all-out war.

The spokesman added Ireland insists aircraft overflying national airspace or using airports such as Shannon for refuelling cannot carry weaponry. He said the issue would be assessed by the Government if an attack on Iraq was given a fresh UN mandate.

Advocates of attacking Baghdad argue the UN has already given clearance. The UN passed a resolution on weapons inspection at the end of the Gulf War over a decade ago which included admission of weapons’ inspectors.