Full excerpts from the speech of the top US diplomat delivered at the World Economic Forum. The speech highlights the Bush Administration's position on current international developments. The address represents an appealing signal to the representatives of the world’s business, political and cultural elites that the US is ready for a just war against Baghdad’s rogue regime. The use of historical parallels is meant to strengthen the US argument and dispel doubts about an American ‘unilateralist’ approach. The past record of US crisis resolution involvement shows Washington’s determination to acts responsibly, without seeking benefits for itself. It is about brining positive change, security and peace ‘for people who have already suffered too much’. Powell defines the Iraqi declaration as a totally incomplete account of WMD. The forthcoming inspectors’ report would probably not change that perception. The transatlantic bond between Europe and America remains strong, despite the current differences, because it has been created on shared values and solid partnership.

Source: US Department of State Official Website

Small and medium calibre states, especially in the developing world, believe that the US, being the undisputed hyper-power, is overwhelmed by messianic ambitions to rule the rest of the world in good and bad times alike. America’s response to such accusations can be found in President Bush’s state of the union address (Jan 2003). “The American flag stands for more than our power and our interests. …In Afghanistan, we helped liberate an oppressed people. And we will continue helping them secure their country, rebuild their society, and educate all their children -- boys and girls. In the Middle East, we will continue to seek peace between a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine. Across the earth, America is feeding the hungry -- more than 60 percent of international food aid comes as a gift from the people of the United States. As our nation moves troops and builds alliances to make our world safer, we must also remember our calling as a blessed country is to make this world better.”

Extract from Bush’s Address to the American Nation. (Jan 2003): ”He[Saddam Hussein] has shown instead utter contempt for the United Nations, and for the opinion of the world. The 108 U.N. inspectors were sent to conduct -- were not sent to conduct a scavenger hunt for hidden materials across a country the size of California. The job of the inspectors is to verify that Iraq's regime is disarming. It is up to Iraq to show exactly where it is hiding its banned weapons, lay those weapons out for the world to see, and destroy them as directed. Nothing like this has happened.”

As Bush is still weighing options, Bent Scowcroft, former national security adviser to presidents Ford and Bush senior, warns of potential risks a second American led Gulf war can have on the foreign policy and security agenda of the US. If the long term goal is to successfully deal with the threat of international terror, then striking Iraq can seriously jeopardise, if not destroy, the global counterterrorist campaign. The Hussein regime poses a threat to US interests the Middle East but not to the point that it needs to be tackled militarily. The Iraqi threat should be balanced against setting other strategic priorities.

Source: International Herald Tribune, print version 17.08.2002

"The Iraqi letter will also remind many readers that President Bush and Saddam Hussein are both drawing from the same well of outrage, with biblical — or koranic if you like — overtones. "Axis of evil" has a different ring to American ears than "gang of evil," but it's really only a difference in decorum — "gang" coming to us directly from the streets and "axis" coming right out of a valorous chapter in American history."

Source: NY Times 16.11.2002