Polish Nobel Peace laureate Walesa urges backing for U.S.-led strike on Iraq
WARSAW, Poland - Former Polish President Lech Walesa, the winner of the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize, on Wednesday urged the U.N. Security Council to back a U.S.-led war on Iraq (news - web sites) and criticized the United Nations (news - web sites)' "ineffectiveness" so far.
The United States and Britain are seeking support for a new resolution that would give Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) an ultimatum to disarm, or face war. They face opposition from France, Russia and other nations that argue U.N. weapons inspections should continue.
"International authorization for the United States is today the only way to solve common problems," Walesa said in a statement. "In view of the ineffectiveness of U.N. actions, the international community must authorize the United States and its allies, as its representatives, to take the necessary action."
"Otherwise, there will be further conflicts and mutual accusations will weaken cooperation between the nations of the democratic world," Walesa added.
If the new resolution is defeated, U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) have said they would be prepared to go to war anyway. Poland's current government backs their stance.
Walesa, the founder of the Solidarity movement and a key figure in the end of communism in Poland, was president from 1990 until 1995, when he lost his re-election bid to current President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
WARSAW, Poland - Former Polish President Lech Walesa, the winner of the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize, on Wednesday urged the U.N. Security Council to back a U.S.-led war on Iraq (news - web sites) and criticized the United Nations (news - web sites)' "ineffectiveness" so far.
The United States and Britain are seeking support for a new resolution that would give Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) an ultimatum to disarm, or face war. They face opposition from France, Russia and other nations that argue U.N. weapons inspections should continue.
"International authorization for the United States is today the only way to solve common problems," Walesa said in a statement. "In view of the ineffectiveness of U.N. actions, the international community must authorize the United States and its allies, as its representatives, to take the necessary action."
"Otherwise, there will be further conflicts and mutual accusations will weaken cooperation between the nations of the democratic world," Walesa added.
If the new resolution is defeated, U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) have said they would be prepared to go to war anyway. Poland's current government backs their stance.
Walesa, the founder of the Solidarity movement and a key figure in the end of communism in Poland, was president from 1990 until 1995, when he lost his re-election bid to current President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
