Rumsfeld warns hesitation increases risk of war

US Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld warned wary Europeans today that delaying preparations for war in Iraq could make that war more likely while undermining both the Nato alliance and the United Nations.

“Delaying preparations sends a signal of uncertainty, instead of a signal of unity and resolve,” Rumsfeld told an international defence conference in Munich, Germany.

“If the international community once again shows a lack of resolve, there is no chance that Saddam Hussein will disarm voluntarily or flee – and thus little chance of a peaceful outcome.”

Rumsfeld turned directly to the deadlock at Nato where France, Germany and Belgium who are holding up preparations for the alliance to protect Turkey against the threat of an Iraqi counterattack.

He warned the alliance had a treaty obligation to defend Turkey, the only Nato ally that borders Iraq.

“Those preventing the alliance from taking even minimum measures to prepare to do so risk undermining the credibility of the Nato alliance,” Rumsfeld said.

Nato must decide by Monday whether to order its military experts to plan for the deployment of early warning planes, missile defence batteries and specialised units to Turkey.

France, Germany and Belgium have held up the Nato planning for three weeks, arguing that it could undermine UN efforts to avert a war. Anxious alliance officials fear continued refusal could do irreparable harm to Nato.

“I can’t imagine doing that. It is beyond comprehension,” Rumsfeld said to applause. “Turkey is an ally. Turkey is a member of the alliance. To prevent defensive capabilities – just the planning not even the deployment – from going to that country I think is inexcusable.”

He said the US and other countries would move individually to help Turkey if the three countries continued to block the military preparations, but warned of the serious damage that would do to the North Atlantic alliance.

However, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer answered Rumsfeld, by forcefully restating his government’s position that diplomat efforts to secure Iraq’s disarmament had not been exhausted and it was premature to start military moves.

“Excuse me, I am not convinced,” Fischer told a stony faced Rumsfeld. “This is my problem, I can’t go to the public and say let’s go to war because there are reasons. I don’t believe in them.”

Fischer said Germany would respect its commitments to Turkey under the Nato treaty, but said would not support a ”military build up” ahead of the next UN Security Council session when chief weapons inspector Hans Blix is due to present a new report on February 14.

The Iraq crisis and the divisions it has caused among traditional allies dominated the annual conference that gathered dozens of ministers, military top brass and defence experts from Europe, North America and Asia in a hotel in snow-covered Munich.

Outside, 3,500 police deployed to protect the meeting from the expected of thousands of anti-war protesters, including militant anti-capitalist groups who have previously turned violent at such demonstrations.

Rumsfeld headed a high-powered US delegation to the weekend meeting seeking to rally European support for the American case against Saddam Hussein.

He faced French and German governments sceptical of the need for war and resisting US calls both for a second UN Security Council vote authorising military action and the start of Nato planning to help Turkey.

European nations are also divided, with Britain, Italy and Spain leading a group that supports the US position, while France and Germany oppose moves toward conflict.

Fischer angrily rejected criticism of his country, stressing its support for the US after the September 11 attacks and its dispatch of over 3,000 troops to help the war against terrorism. But he insisted the time was not right for war against Iraq.

“Have we got to a point now when we can say we have exhausted all other means? I do not think so,” he told the conference. “We must not accept the logic of a military campaign, we must give the inspectors more time.”

With France hinting it could use its veto on the UN Security Council to block a second resolution authorising war, Rumsfeld also said the future of the United Nations was at stake.

Rumsfeld and Fischer were first to speak at the meeting. Others due to speak over the two days of talks included Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson, and ministers from Russia, France and Iran.