NATO ambassadors were trying to heal a widening rift between the US and three NATO allies that could impede US President George W. Bush's chances of gaining support at the UN for war as an option to disarm Iraq.
France, Germany and Belgium jointly vetoed on Monday a US-backed measure to authorize NATO to make plans to protect Turkey if Iraq attacks it. Russia then joined France and Germany in demanding strengthened weapons inspections in Iraq, which the Bush administration considers virtually useless.
"I am disappointed that France would block NATO from helping a country like Turkey prepare," Bush said. "I don't understand that decision. It affects the alliance in a negative way."
France's stand on Turkey could signal its steadfast opposition or even a threatened veto to a US-backed resolution at the UN that would authorize force to disarm Iraq.
In Brussels yesterday, NATO tried to surmount the standoff -- one of the worst crises in its 53-year history. A second emergency meeting of the alliance's decision making North Atlantic Council was postponed for five hours while diplomats held "intensive informal negotiations" to resolve the deadlock, said a NATO official speaking on condition of anonymity.
For the leaders of France, Germany and Belgium, equipping Turkey with anti-missile defenses, radar and other military equipment sends the wrong signal in the midst of weapons inspections.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Colin Powell planned to testify yesterday on Capitol Hill to try to inspire more support from Congress for the war option. His detailed indictment of Iraq as a deceptive stockpiler of weapons of mass destruction at the UN Security Council last week won instant praise from members of Congress, but skepticism about going to war remains strong.
At the UN Security Council, the US began consultations with other countries on a new resolution designed to strengthen Bush's hand if he should decide to go to war.
After meeting at the White House with Bush and other officials on Monday, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, a solid Washington supporter, said: "Australia does not believe all of the heavy lifting should be done by the United States and the United Kingdom alone."
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