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"When You See Smoke Come Out Of A Gun.. Then It's To Late":  Ari Fleisher 

01/11/07

THE White House last night renewed accusations of ties between Iraq and al-Qaeda.

Spokesman Ari Fleischer said al-Qaeda prisoners had revealed that Iraq provided chemical weapons training to the terror group.

He provided no details or evidence, but suggested al-Qaeda was seeking a new haven after the US-led attack on Afghanistan.

He declared: "If you're waiting for a smoking gun, the problem is, when you see smoke coming out of the gun, it's too late, the damage is done," he said.

Despite the claims, President George Bush looked increasingly isolated last night as he moved towards action on Iraq.

Even America's staunchest allies called for weapons inspectors to be allowed to continue their work.

Britain signalled that it would not slavishly follow the White House line when British UN ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock declared the inspectors' report "inconclusive".

He called for more help for the inspectors from Saddam Hussein.

But, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said time was almost up.

Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, he said: "There is clear evidence that he is not involved in effective cooperation but is practising concealment."

He added: "What we have heard confirms the UK government position. If this failure continues, Iraq would have to face serious consequences."

He said the current UN resolution authorising the inspections "was and is the final opportunity to comply".

However, France, Russia and China - the other permanent, veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council - want the inspectors to be given more time to complete their task.

The EU is split, with Britain siding with Washington in advocating military action sooner rather than later. Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands agree.

France and Germany, joined by Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg, insist war can only come after a fresh UN Security Council resolution.

Despite the division, foreign ministers meeting in Brussels agreed a joint statement calling on Iraq to comply with the arms inspections.

The EU statement said: "The Iraqi authorities must as an imperative provide the inspectors without delay with all additional and complete information on questions raised by the international community."

However, the countries cannot agree a common position on what to do if Saddam continues to block the work of the arms inspectors.

France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg all strongly oppose bombing Baghdad and want the inspectors to be given more time.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said: "We must try everything to implement the UN Security Council resolution without military force."

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said: "As long as the inspectors can make progress, and are able to report back at regular intervals, there is every reason to continue down the inspections route."

The Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou has been hoping to take a single EU view on Iraq on a mission to moderate Arab nations.

In Iraq, Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said they had cooperated fully with inspectors and accused the United States and Britain of setting the stage for an unjustified aggression.

"The ball is in their court," he said. "We have done everything possible to let this country and this region avoid war by the warmongers in Washington and their ally Tony Blair."

Sabri accused the United States of "dreams of controlling the whole world ... by controlling this region".

He said: "Their sole aim is not weapons of mass destruction ... but to control the oil of the Gulf as well as protecting the security of Israel."

Bush faced further problems as a new CNN poll showed US domestic opposition to war is up from 38 per cent to 43 per cent.

Copyright Daily Record

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