Heated Debate on `Expansion of War to Iraq`

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who has maintained the attacks on Iraq as a hardliner within the U.S. administration, said in an interview with the Britain`s Daily Telegraph, "While it would be ideal for the U.S. to call for the inspection on the Iraq`s weapons diplomatically, if it is coupled with the military pressure, it would be more fruitful."

A soft-liner U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell also expressed the firm position at a dinner in honor of Partners in the Fight Against Land Mines, "The Arabic world should pay attention to the call for the inspection on Iraqi weapons. The United States can make several decisions in order to accomplish the inspection."

The western diplomats, well-informed in the U.S. policy, said in an interview with the AFP, "There is no doubt that the U.S. will launch an attack on Iraq. Only matter is the timing of air strike."

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said in an interview in Baghdad with the Qatari satellite channel Al-Jazeera. that the U.S. was expected to launch the air raid, and the Iraq were ready to defend itself against any military strikes. And regarding the U.S.`s request for inspection on nuclear weapons, he added that Iraq refused the entrance of the inspection team to the country because it would surely bring about the severe damage.

Meanwhile, the CNN reported on 28th that some parts of the Bush administration raised the assertion that the U.S. should focus on the Afghan operation rather than expand the war on terrorism to Iraq because the Arabic world and European countries have strongly repelled against the strike on Iraq. Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin also said on 28th that "it is more important than the attacks on Iraq to maintain a cooperative system with the alliances such as European countries."