Diplomatic Efforts Continue Amidst Threats of Military Strike Against Iraq

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa declared that "all options are still on the table" for dealing with Iraq, despite declining to endorse a US military strike. This statement came after a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was on a six-day round of diplomacy aimed at obtaining support for a US attack if Iraq continues to bar UN inspectors from sites where weapons of mass destruction might be stored. Arab leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, met with Albright and expressed strong support for the US position that Iraq must comply with UN resolutions, but most declined to back US military action.

Key Takeaways:

• Egypt's diplomatic efforts will continue, with Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stating that "all options are still on the table" for dealing with Iraq.
• Arab leaders who met with Albright strongly agreed with the US that Iraq must comply with UN resolutions, but most declined to back US military action.
• An apparent exception was Bahrain, which supported the US in warning Iraq of "grave consequences" if it fails to heed UN demands.
• Saudi Arabia stated that Iraq bears responsibility if diplomacy fails to end the inspection impasse, but stopped short of granting US planes use of their air bases for strikes against Iraq.
• US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with President Hosni Mubarak, who has stressed the need for a diplomatic solution and has conferred in recent days with Arab leaders.
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned President Saddam Hussein that Britain is prepared to use military strikes if deemed necessary.
• US Senator John McCain stated that a US strike appears inevitable unless something happens within the next few days to a couple of weeks.
• Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott called for decisive military action against Saddam, saying that the US should "go all the way" and remove Saddam from power.

Statistics:

• The US has the unequivocal support of Britain in its approach toward Iraq.
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned President Saddam Hussein that Britain is prepared to use military strikes if deemed necessary.
• US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was on a six-day round of diplomacy aimed at obtaining support for a US attack if Iraq continues to bar UN inspectors from sites where weapons of mass destruction might be stored.

Sources:

• The Associated Press
• Reuters News Agency
• US Department of State
• News conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
• Interviews with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Senator John McCain
• Statements from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott