|
Bush
Threatened Nations That Did Not Back Iraq War
By Agence France Presse
09/26/07 "AFP"
-- -- US President George W. Bush threatened nations with
retaliation if they did not vote for a UN resolution backing the
Iraq war, according to a transcript published Wednesday of a
conversation he had with former Spanish prime minister Jose
Maria Aznar.
In the transcript of a meeting on February 22, 2003 — a month
before the US-led invasion of Iraq — published in the El Pais
daily, Bush tells Aznar that nations like Mexico, Angola, Chile
and Cameroon must know that the security of the United States is
at stake.
He says during the meeting on his ranch in Texas that Angola
stood to lose financial aid while Chile could see a free trade
agreement held up in the US Senate if they did not back the
resolution, the left-wing paper said.
The confidential transcript was prepared by Spain’s ambassador
to the United States at the time, Javier Ruperez, the paper
said.
Prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003,
Washington unsuccessfully lobbied the 15 members of the UN
Security Council for a second resolution paving the way for
military action against Iraq if Saddam Hussein failed to comply
with demands to disarm.
But during the meeting with Aznar, Bush made it clear the US
would invade Iraq by the end of March 2003 whether or not there
was a UN resolution to authorize it, El Pais reported.
“We have to get rid of Saddam. There are two weeks left. In two
weeks we will be ready militarily. We will be in Baghdad at the
end of March,” Bush said in the transcript which was translated
into Spanish by the newspaper.
Victory would come “without destruction”, he added.
The meeting between Aznar and Bush came just days after a
massive protest in Madrid by more than a million people against
the invasion which Aznar’s conservative government backed.
Aznar tells Bush in the transcript that he needed Washington’s
help to get Spanish public opinion behind the invasion. He adds
that he is worried by Bush’s optimism.
“I am optimistic because I believe I am right. I am at peace
with myself,” Bush responded.
Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse
Click
on "comments" below to
read or post comments
Comment
Guidelines
Be succinct, constructive and
relevant to the story.
We
encourage engaging, diverse and
meaningful commentary. Do not
include personal information such
as names, addresses, phone
numbers and emails. Comments
falling outside our guidelines
– those including personal
attacks and profanity – are
not permitted.
See our complete
Comment
Policy and
use
this link to notify us if you
have concerns about a comment.
We’ll promptly review and
remove any inappropriate
postings.
Send Page To a Friend
In accordance
with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material
is distributed without profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational
purposes. Information Clearing House has no
affiliation whatsoever with the originator of
this article nor is Information ClearingHouse
endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
|
