[A-List] US imperialism: NATO & Iraq

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

US asks Nato for indirect support over war
By David Usborne in New York
The Independent
16 January 2003

The United States has asked its Nato allies for indirect support in the
event of war with Iraq, including the deployment of hardware to protect
Turkey, a member of the alliance, in case it faces retaliation for allowing
forces to use its air bases.

Washington wants help in an array of areas, including using Nato's planning
facilities to co-ordinate efforts such as transport for troops and
equipment, mid-air refueling, or even air cover to ground troops. America
also seeks to use Nato surveillance planes, minesweepers or naval patrol
ships.

The requests do not refer to direct engagement inside Iraq. A priority is
the provision of missiles to shield Turkey. "These are prudent contingency
proposals so that in the event that we would be called upon to show
solidarity with Turkey, we would be positioned militarily to do so," one
Nato official said.

UN inspectors descended on Saddam Hussein's main palace in central Baghdad
yesterday. The teams stayed away from the Iraqi leader's offices in the
Republican Palace, focusing on other government buildings in the complex.

The inspection, which lasted three and a half hours, was delayed slightly
while the UN team waited for Iraqi officials to deliver keys needed to open
four safes, which they duly did. Whether President Saddam was inside the
compound when the inspectors paid their visit was not clear. The palace is
on the banks of the Tigris.

Meanwhile, Alexander Saltanov, the Russian deputy foreign minister,
travelled to Baghdad for talks on the crisis. Russia continues to press for
a diplomatic, rather than military, solution.