U.S. Asian allies not in one voice over stand on Iraq

U.S. Asian allies not in one voice over stand on Iraq

Agence France-Presse, Singapore/Manila

Two staunch supporters of the United States in Southeast Asia
region, Singapore and the Philippine, took different preliminary
stance over the possible U.S. attack on Iraq.

Singapore, a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led war on terror,
was keeping silent on Monday on whether it would support U.S.
military action against Iraq.

While the Philippines officials confirmed that American
warplanes and vessels may land, dock, refuel or conduct flyovers
of the Philippines should the U.S. decide to attack Iraq.

Although the war rhetoric from Washington was growing louder,
Singapore Defense Minister Tony Tan said the question of a U.S.
attack on Iraq remained hypothetical.

Singapore would only state its stand when an attack occurs, he
told Channel NewsAsia in an interview to be aired on Monday
night.

The Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople stressed
that while Manila was "not endorsing any war", it had earlier
made a commitment to help the U.S. government in its global war
on terrorism.

"There is no request from the United States, but the president
said the offer for overflights if required still stands," Ople
told reporters.

As U.S. President George W. Bush prepares to put the U.S. case
against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to the UN General Assembly,
and Washington attempts to whip up international support for a
possible military campaign, there has so far been little backing
from Southeast Asia.

Predominantly Muslim Malaysia, and the world's largest Muslim
nation Indonesia, are opposed to any strike, while the
Philippines, with a large Muslim population in the south, said it
would want any action to be under UN auspices.

Any U.S. strike would have an impact on Islamic societies
"including those in Southeast Asia," Singapore Deputy Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters, but adding it was "too
premature to say" if the U.S. would attack Iraq.

"Iraq is not abiding by the United Nations Security Council's
inspections, especially with regard to weapons of mass
destruction. It is a serious problem, and could affect the
world's security," Lee told reporters on Sunday.

He raised two possible outcomes of an attack. A swift
operation that "solves the problem and tensions ease", and the
alternative, less neat scenario where "oil prices will go up,
costs will rise and the economy will be affected."

The Philippines Foreign Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin said
the U.S. government however should first satisfy the
international community that an attack on Iraq is connected to
its anti-terror campaign before American forces are allowed to
use Philippine facilities.

"If the attack on Iraq is part of the anti-terrorism
campaign ... we could accommodate their request," he said. "We
have to see the connection on terrorism."

Ople maintained Manila supports a diplomatic solution to the
Iraq-U.S. row, but noted that the Philippines has been a long-
time military ally of the U.S. in the Southeast Asian region.