Rumsfeld indicated yesterday that America was willing and capable of going it alone against Iraq, without British assistance.
"Until we know what the resolution is (going to say), we won't know the answer as to what their role will be," Rumsfeld said of the British military, which is deploying 45,000 troops to the Gulf."And to the extent they are able to participate — in the event that the president decides to use force — that would obviously be welcomed," he added. "To the extent they're not, there are workarounds and they would not be involved, at least in that phase of it."
Obviously, Rumsfeld was trying to keep the pressure on Hussein, letting him know that we were still coming. Unfortunately, this statement had the effect of cutting Tony Blair's legs out from under him, giving the anti-war faction in Britain more ammunition. They are saying that if the US doesn't need them, then the Brits shouldn't go.
If I were Blair, I'd be furious with this gaffe.
Posted by Rich at March 12, 2003 10:57 AM | TrackBackI'm not so sure it was a gaffe. Blair can't help us invade Iraq unless the UN Security Council approves it. Polls show if he goes without UNSC approval, he's dead meat politically, but the Brits will accept participation in the war if the UNSC votes yes. (Even if the French ultimately veto it, I'm guessing the Brits would back Blair over the snooty French.
So what Rumsfeld did was tell Blair he's off the hook if the UNSC votes no. He's giving Blair an "out" because Blair has been such a staunch US ally and we can't sacrifice him just to get UK troops on the ground in Iraq. Post-war, Blair can send in British troops as peacekeepers.
Whether or not it's a gaffe, I don't understand (well I guess I do really) why the Administration lets Rumsfeld make these outrageous statements on foreign policy. His job is to prosecute the President's foreign policy decisions that involve a military component, decisions that are (thankfully) still made under political control, not military.
Posted by: SK Bubba on March 12, 2003 3:33 PM