Bush threatened nations that did not back Iraq war: report

[seafan]

Now we know why Bush eavesdropped on UN members in early 2003, to see how they would vote in the high-pressure tactics to authorize his stampede into Iraq.




Bush threatened nations that did not back Iraq war: report

September 26, 2007

MADRID (AFP) — US President George W. Bush threatened nations with retaliation if they did not vote for a UN resolution backing the Iraq war, according to a transcript published Wednesday of a conversation he had with former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar.
In the transcript of a meeting on February 22, 2003 -- a month before the US-led invasion of Iraq -- published in El Pais newspaper, Bush tells Aznar that nations such as Mexico, Angola, Chile and Cameroon must know that the security of the United States is at stake.

He says during the meeting on his ranch in Texas that Angola stood to lose financial aid while Chile could see a free trade agreement held up in the US Senate if they did not back the resolution, the left-wing paper said.
The confidential transcript was prepared by Spain's ambassador to the United States at the time, Javier Ruperez, the paper said.
The White House did not challenge the accuracy of the transcript, with national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe declining to comment.

Prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003, Washington unsuccessfully lobbied the 15 members of the UN Security Council for a second resolution paving the way for military action against Iraq if Saddam Hussein failed to comply with demands to disarm.
But during the meeting with Aznar, Bush made it clear the US would invade Iraq by the end of March 2003 whether or not there was a UN resolution to authorize it, El Pais reported.

"We have to get rid of Saddam. There are two weeks left. In two weeks we will be ready militarily. We will be in Baghdad at the end of March," Bush said in the transcript which was translated into Spanish by the newspaper.
"We can win without destruction. We are already planning a post-Saddam Iraq and I think there is a good basis for a better future. Iraq has a good bureaucracy and a relatively robust civil society," he added.

During the meeting Aznar tells Bush that he is worried by the US president's optimism.

"I am optimistic because I believe I am right. I am at peace with myself," Bush responded according to the transcript.

.....

Asked by Aznar whether Saddam could leave with a guarantee that he would not be prosecuted, Bush replied: "No guarantee. He is a thief, a terrorist, a war criminal."

"Compared to Saddam, (former Yugoslav President Slobodan) Milosovic is a Mother Teresa. When we go in we are going to find many more criminals and take them to the International Court of Justice in The Hague," he added.

.....

And more details of the Bush-Aznar meeting:


Bush-Aznar Conspiracy against Iraq Disclosed

September 26, 2007

Madrid, Sept 26 (Prensa Latina) Major details about a conspiracy between Presidents George W. Bush (US) and Jose Maria Aznar (Spain) to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam Hussein were published in the Spanish newspaper El Pais on Wednesday.
The two presidents met on Saturday, February 22, 2003, in Bush's Crawford Ranch in Texas, where the US president briefed his Spanish friend on Washington's decision to eliminate Hussein, according to the minutes of the meeting.

On January 31, 2003, after a meeting with then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush had agreed to carry out a last diplomatic maneuver: a second resolution at the UN Security Council to greenlight the invasion of Iraq, but the plan failed.

The US president was aware of Blair's and Aznar's domestic difficulties, including three million people demonstrating in several Spanish cities against the invasion of Iraq.
"We need your help with our public opinion," Aznar told Bush, who promised the Spanish president that "the resolution will be tailor made to the extent I can help you. I don't care about the content," said the minutes.

.....

Aznar and his wife, Ana Botella, had traveled to the United State on February 20. They stopped over in Mexico to try to persuade President Vicente Fox (unsuccessfully) to support Bush.
Also present in the Texas meeting was then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Council chief for European Affairs, Daniel Fried, Aznar's advisor on international policy, Alberto Carnero, and Spanish Ambassador to the US Javier Ruperez.

During the meeting, Bush and Aznar phoned Blair and then Italian President Silvio Berlusconi.
The minutes of the meeting reveal threats to members of the UN Security Council, a plot against the report on weapons of mass destruction presented by inspector Hans Blix, and the goals of the Azores meeting between Bush, Aznar and Blair on March 16, 2003.

On the Azores islands, the three politicians agreed on replacing the UN Security Council and usurping its functions to declare the genocidal invasion of Iraq on their own account and risk.

Edited to add further corroboration:


AMBASSADOR CONFIRMS US TRADE THREAT TO CHILE IN RUN-UP TO IRAQ WAR

September 27, 2007

(Sept. 27, 2007) Current Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations, Heraldo Muñoz, confirmed Wednesday that, in the run up to the Iraq war, the U.S. government made clear to Chile that it risked jeopardizing the Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries if it did not support a second resolution in the UN Security Council favoring the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

In early 2003, as the ground was being prepared for the US-led invasion of Iraq, Chile held a non-permanent seat on the 15 member UN Security Council. The US wanted Chile’s support when it proposed a second resolution to the Security Council that would provide a secure legal grounding for the use of force against Saddam Hussein.

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According to the transcript, Mr. Bush told Mr. Aznar that “Countries like Mexico, Chile, Angola and Cameroon need to know that the security of the USA is at stake, and need to act with a spirit of friendship…. Lagos has to realize that the FTA with Chile is awaiting approval from the Senate and that a negative attitude on this issue could jeopardize its ratification.”

Ambassador Muñoz, who was serving as General Secretary to the Lagos Government at the time, told the press that “There were pressures…what has been reported basically corresponds to the truth…it was insinuated that the agreement with Chile would be delayed and would be disassociated from the FTA agreement with Singapore, which was being negotiated concurrently.”

However, he said “My perception is that the FTA was never at risk because the US and Chile had already invested a lot in several rounds of negotiations and they weren’t going to turn back…if they didn’t have a treaty with Chile, who else in Latin America could they reach agreement with?”

Despite the pressure from Mr. Bush, President Lagos refused to support the second U.N. resolution, which was then withdrawn. The war began, without UN approval, on the night of March 19, 2003.

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[madeline_con]

1. So, we'll be at war with every country EXCEPT Micronesia?! n/t

[seafan]

2. A late night kick. n/t

[Gloria]

3. KICK

[defendandprotect]

4. The Bush mafia tactics -- disgusting!!!

[Just-plain-Kathy]

7. The White House Mafia...Spreading fear world wide, while selling weapons on the side. ..n/

[bobthedrummer]

5. k&r

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST

[Itchinjim]

6. "I am optimistic because I believe I am right. I am at peace with myself,"

What a piece of shit this cretin is. F**k you W. May this war haunt you till the end of time. F**k you.