[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONFRONTING THREATS TOGETHER

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, in Brussels today, the North Atlantic 
Council of the NATO Alliance continues to deliberate on a matter that 
has potentially grave consequences for the alliance. France, Germany, 
and Belgium have blocked the consultation and planning for the defense 
of Turkey, which that country has requested by the unprecedented 
invocation of article IV of the NATO Treaty.
  At best, it would inexcusably delay planning for the defense of an 
ally, possibly leading to an avoidable loss of life should Turkey come 
under attack. At worst, it means the very end of the alliance, as its 
core mutual defense guarantee would be exposed as nothing more than 
empty words from the French, German, and Belgian governments.
  No longer is this a question of whether authorizing NATO planning 
somehow signals a decision to use military force against Iraq. This was 
the argument used by the three allies on Monday when they blocked a 
response to Turkey's article IV request.
  Should France, Germany, and Belgium continue to object to prudent 
contingency planning to deter or to defend against a possible threat to 
Turkey, the core collective-defense commitment of the alliance will be 
called into doubt.
  This Member hopes that President Chirac, Chancellor Schroder, and 
Prime Minister Verhofstadt recognize that this is no longer an Iraq 
question. This is no longer a U.N. question. This is now a question 
about whether the 19 NATO allies will fulfill their solemn treaty 
commitments.

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