European Reaction to Bush's UN Speech

The European Union, which has so far presented a schizophrenic stance on a possible US invasion of Iraq, welcomed President George W. Bush's speech at the United Nations on Thursday.

The speech proved that the United States was interested in pursuing a multilateralist approach, said Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the EU representative at the speech. Other European ministers echoed Rasmussen, saying they were pleased that Bush had agreed to involve the United Nations in the final decision.

The speech was "very hard, clear and obvious," said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who attended the speech. He said the signal sent to Iraq was clear and demanded Bagdad let UN weapons inspectors back into the country.

Germany is the only one of the 15 EU member countries to categorically reject a US invasion of Iraq, even with a UN mandate. In reference to his country's position, Fischer said the German government was still "deeply concerned" about the aftermath of such an invasion.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's staunchest ally in Europe, greeted the speech "warmly" said a spokesperson. Blair said Great Britain would be heavily involved in shaping the UN resolution, talks on which are expected by the end of the month.

Preparations have already begun

The comments came amid reports Great Britain's armed forces had already begun preparing itself for the "biggest operation in years" according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. British media said the army was stockpiling weapons, supplies and military craft in a harbor in the south of the country.

The United States has already moved its operational command to Qatar, a half-island abbuting Saudi Arabia. Such preparations prove that in the "thoughts and decisions of many , the war against Iraq has already begun," wrote the French daily "Le Figaro" in a Friday editorial. "Only appeasement by Iraq or a miracle can still stop it. Should war be avoided then it would definitely not hurt the USA, and this also won't occur without their support."

The left-leaning Danish newspaper "Politiken" praised Bush's attempt at multiateralism.

"No democratic government can call Bush's demands unreasonable," it wrote. "They are not meant as a threat against the Iraqi people. Nothing is keeping Saddam Hussein from doing his people a favor ... Bush did right to demand the international community show some backbone."

Great Britain's left-leaning "Guardian" newspaper said Bush left a major question unanswered.

"What was signally lacking from Mr Bush's speech was any information showing how or why these abuses have suddenly grown more egregious or less tolerable than before," according to the editorial. "In other words, Mr Bush had the chance to answer the much-asked question: why now? And he dodged it."