Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, denying any shift in policy towards Iraq, dismissed reports today that the Netherlands would support a military strike by the United States. He also flatly contradicted remarks by a junior Defense Minister that suggested the Netherlands would send a frigate to the gulf to back up any U.S. action, remarks that had been echoed by U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright.

Albright told a Senate hearing on Tuesday there was increasing international support for military action if diplomatic efforts failed to persuade Iraq to open up suspected weapons sites to U.N. inspectors. She then said that the Netherlands was among the nations to have offered their backing.

The now refuted claim about Dutch support is not the first time that a statement by Madeleine Albright has been proven false.

Guest:

• Martha Burk, Editor of Feminist Faxnet, president of the Center for the Advancement of Public Policy.
• Mark Bruzonsky,director of Committee on the Middle East. Former Washington representative of the World Jewish Congress and Founder and Chairperson of the Jewish Committee on the Middle East (JCOME).
• Adotei Akwei, director of Amnesty International for Africa.

Related Links:

• Amnesty International
• FEMINIST.COM