WASHINGTON (voa) – U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney says he thinks military action against Iraq would be supported both in the United States and abroad.
Speaking Friday in Washington, the vice president declined to discuss any potential measures against Iraq or Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. But Mr. Cheney said if what he called aggressive action was required, he anticipates it would get the support of both the American people and the international community.
U.S. officials have said they would like to see Saddam Hussein toppled on the grounds that Baghdad supports terrorism and is trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Allies in the U.S.-led war on terrorism are more cautious about attacking Iraq. Friday, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he supports the U.S. aim to overthrow Saddam Hussein, but that Britain is undecided about toppling the the Iraqi leader by force. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov warned Washington against taking unilateral action against Iraq, saying such action could only aggravate the situation.
Turkey also weighed in against U.S. military action, with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit saying that worries over a U.S. attack on Iraq are hurting the economy of Turkey, Iraq’s neighbor.
Speculation about a possible U.S. attack on Iraq has escalated since President Bush named Iraq as one of three countries in an “axis of evil” during his State of the Union speech last month.
In his speech before the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, Vice President Cheney said he was also disappointed in the conduct of the Iranian government. Mr. Cheney said Iran seems committed to destroying the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and continues efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Iran’s relationship with the United States seemed to be improving last year. But relations took a turn for the worse when Israel intercepted a shipment of arms that it said Iran had sent for Palestinian militants.
Mr. Cheney said he hoped the Iranian government understands the depth of the Bush Administration’s feelings and that the two countries could find a way to resolve their concerns.
