Bush Considers Diplomatic Effort before Attacking Iraq

The National Security Policy Meeting held by the US President George W. Bush on the 21st drew remarkable attention.

It was because the meeting was called 16 days after the Commander of the Central Region Tommie Frank reported to the President Bush about the plan of war against Iraq on the 5th at the President Bush’s vacation house, the Crawford Ranch in Texas, which was called the ‘West White House.’ The Vice President Dick Chenny, the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and the National Security Advisor Condoliza Rice, who were called the three ‘anti-axis of evil’ people since they led tough line against Iraq, participated on the meeting by helicopters. Coincidentally, the Secretary of the State Collin Powell, who was a moderate against Iraq, did not participate on the meeting.

Because of that, there was a rumor saying that the attacking Iraq was near right before the meeting.

A columnist of the New York Times Morin Dawd illustrated that it was a ‘consultation of coup d’etat by civilian leaders against military.’ It illustrates that despite of the prudent opinions of the former 4 star general Secretary Powell and the military, the hard liners were pushing the plan of attacking Iraq.

However, the President Bush said firmly at the press conference after the meeting, “The Iraqi issue was not mentioned at the meeting.” He reminded the press the reason why the Iraqi issue was not mentioned, “The Commander of the Central Region Franks did not participate.”

The President Bush added, “To kick out the Iraqi President Sadam Hussein meets the interest of the world,” but “we will consider all the possible techniques, diplomacy, and information to kick him out.”

The Associated Press reported about the meeting that the President Bush seemed to be trying to calm down the ‘view of approaching of attacking Iraq.’ The President Bush also stressed, “I am very patient man.”

However, only few hours later at the neighboring Fort Hood military base, the Secretary Rumsfeld said to the soldiers, “Although the President did not decide yet, he is thinking about attacking Iraq.” And the Commander of the Central Region Franks, who held a press conference at the opposite side of the earth, Kazakhstan said, “I am making military plans against Iraq to offer trustworthy choices to the President Bush.”

konihong@donga.com