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McCallum suggests shift in Iraq war policy
By ALLISON DUNFIELD
With reports from Daniel LeBlanc and Canadian Press
Globe and Mail Update
09 Jan 03, POSTED AT 7:22 PM EST
Canada may decide at a later date to take part in a military attack on Iraq even if the United Nations Security Council does not authorize the use of force, Defence Minister John McCallum said Thursday in Washington.
"What Canada is saying [is] that if the UN Security Council authorizes the use of force, Canada will certainly be a member of the coalition. If the Security Council does not authorize the use of force, the government of Canada will make its decision in due course."
He added: "Some may say, ‘We‘re doing it only with a UN mandate.‘ We‘re saying we much prefer that, but we may do it otherwise."
Asked whether that means Canada will remain on the sidelines if the United States attacks Iraq on its own, Mr. McCallum replied: "That‘s not decided yet."
The Defence Minister made the remarks after a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr. McCallum emphasized that the Canadian government remains hopeful that Iraq will comply fully with weapons inspectors, adding that Canada believes that war is not inevitable. "...Everyone wants to avoid war," he said
Mr. McCallum said a small delegation of military planners are currently in Tampa, Fla. discussing the matters with UN authorities.
"That does not necessarily mean we will be there, but it‘s necessary to discuss these matters in advance so we can take military action if the government decides that is necessary."
He would not say whether Canada‘s crack military team, the Joint Task Force 2, would be involved.
No action will be taken until Canada hears the next UN weapons inspectors report to the security council, slated for Jan. 27.
Canada‘s Foreign Affairs Minister is also hopeful that a diplomatic solution will arise out of the UN resolution.
"We are now seeing the buildup of credible forces to indicate that in the event a UN resolution authorizes force — that it‘s still there. At the same time we have to make sure everybody understands that diplomacy and a peaceful end to this is the solution that‘s preferred by everyone," Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham told CBC Newsworld on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Hans Blix, head of the UN security mission scouring Iraq for weapons of mass destruction, said the team had found no "smoking guns."
A decision to send troops to the Persian Gulf area would have to be made by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who has said that he would seek UN approval for any military action.
It would be possible to send a battle group of 1,000 Canadian troops but it may be difficult to sustain the group for a lengthy period because the Canadian military is cash-strapped.
The Defence Minister said he will wait to see if the upcoming federal budget provides more money for the Canadian Forces.
"I‘m relatively optimistic but I don‘t know what will happen in terms of the budget."
Meanwhile, troops are being gathered in France and Britain. The United States will soon have 100,000 military personnel in the Persian Gulf.
On Thursday, Mr. McCallum and Mr. Rumsfeld also discussed the issue of ballistic missile defence.
On Jan. 20, a group of Canadian officials will head to Washington on a fact-finding mission to explore ballistic missile defence, Mr. McCallum said.
Mr. McCallum said the advantage of Canadian participation in ballistic missile defence "gives Canada more influence over how the system works and we can make sure our own interests are taken account of."
By ALLISON DUNFIELD
With reports from Daniel LeBlanc and Canadian Press
Globe and Mail Update
09 Jan 03, POSTED AT 7:22 PM EST
Canada may decide at a later date to take part in a military attack on Iraq even if the United Nations Security Council does not authorize the use of force, Defence Minister John McCallum said Thursday in Washington.
"What Canada is saying [is] that if the UN Security Council authorizes the use of force, Canada will certainly be a member of the coalition. If the Security Council does not authorize the use of force, the government of Canada will make its decision in due course."
He added: "Some may say, ‘We‘re doing it only with a UN mandate.‘ We‘re saying we much prefer that, but we may do it otherwise."
Asked whether that means Canada will remain on the sidelines if the United States attacks Iraq on its own, Mr. McCallum replied: "That‘s not decided yet."
The Defence Minister made the remarks after a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr. McCallum emphasized that the Canadian government remains hopeful that Iraq will comply fully with weapons inspectors, adding that Canada believes that war is not inevitable. "...Everyone wants to avoid war," he said
Mr. McCallum said a small delegation of military planners are currently in Tampa, Fla. discussing the matters with UN authorities.
"That does not necessarily mean we will be there, but it‘s necessary to discuss these matters in advance so we can take military action if the government decides that is necessary."
He would not say whether Canada‘s crack military team, the Joint Task Force 2, would be involved.
No action will be taken until Canada hears the next UN weapons inspectors report to the security council, slated for Jan. 27.
Canada‘s Foreign Affairs Minister is also hopeful that a diplomatic solution will arise out of the UN resolution.
"We are now seeing the buildup of credible forces to indicate that in the event a UN resolution authorizes force — that it‘s still there. At the same time we have to make sure everybody understands that diplomacy and a peaceful end to this is the solution that‘s preferred by everyone," Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham told CBC Newsworld on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Hans Blix, head of the UN security mission scouring Iraq for weapons of mass destruction, said the team had found no "smoking guns."
A decision to send troops to the Persian Gulf area would have to be made by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who has said that he would seek UN approval for any military action.
It would be possible to send a battle group of 1,000 Canadian troops but it may be difficult to sustain the group for a lengthy period because the Canadian military is cash-strapped.
The Defence Minister said he will wait to see if the upcoming federal budget provides more money for the Canadian Forces.
"I‘m relatively optimistic but I don‘t know what will happen in terms of the budget."
Meanwhile, troops are being gathered in France and Britain. The United States will soon have 100,000 military personnel in the Persian Gulf.
On Thursday, Mr. McCallum and Mr. Rumsfeld also discussed the issue of ballistic missile defence.
On Jan. 20, a group of Canadian officials will head to Washington on a fact-finding mission to explore ballistic missile defence, Mr. McCallum said.
Mr. McCallum said the advantage of Canadian participation in ballistic missile defence "gives Canada more influence over how the system works and we can make sure our own interests are taken account of."
