Jordanian king says attack on Iraq would undermine terror war

Associated Press WriterAMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- An attack on Iraq would undermine the war against terrorism and destabilize the Mideast, Jordanian King Abdullah II said Tuesday, shortly before hearing Vice President Dick Cheney's case for ousting Saddam Hussein.

Cheney met with the king, a close U.S. ally, at Beit al-Barakeh palace in the first stop of his 11-nation tour of the Middle East. The Bush administration is seeking support among Arabs for deposing the Iraqi president.

"Any strike on Iraq will have dangerous repercussions on the stability of the whole region and the international effort to combat terrorism," Abdullah told the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper in remarks carried by Jordan's official Petra news agency.

He said the situation in Palestinian territories is critical and expressed concern the violence could lead to "things getting out of control." Nevertheless, he added, "I believe there is still a chance to resume the peace process."

"The only solution which could ensure security and provide peace is dialogue and resolving issues in peaceful ways," he said.

Cheney, in remarks at an airport ceremony, called Jordan "a force for peace and against violence in this region." He promised the United States will do all it can to quell fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians.

He knew in advance he faced a hard sell trying to drum up Arab support for ridding Iraq of Saddam. Abdullah had told an Iraqi diplomat on Sunday that a strike against Iraq would threaten the security and stability of the Middle East.

Turkey, another stop on Cheney's itinerary, has also warned the United States that a military strike against neighboring Iraq could destabilize the region. Leaders of Saudi Arabia and Egypt also oppose a military campaign against Iraq.

The Bush administration is mindful of the Arab world's suspicions of any widening of the terror war in that region.

"I will be discussing the current actions of the coalition. We will confer as well about the threat of weapons of mass destruction and the important choices that await us in the days ahead," Cheney said Monday.

"In these matters, America is not announcing decisions," he added.

Still, it was clear that the United States, supported by Britain, has been sharpening its rhetoric against Saddam and laying a groundwork for possible military action against him.

"Saddam Hussein and the weapons of mass destruction that he has acquired is not in doubt at all," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday at a news conference with Cheney.

"The threat," Blair added, "will have to be addressed."

Blair said no final decisions had been made on the war's next phase -- and Cheney offered no timetable.

The reaction Cheney will receive in the Middle East will surely contrast with Blair's words of support.

Britain has been America's strongest ally in the anti-terrorism campaign. The two countries also continue to patrol no-fly zones in Iraq.

Blair's strong military alignment with the Bush administration has brought him some political criticism at home. Cheney said that any widening of the war that might involve British forces "would be done only in the closest possible consultation-coordination."

President Bush has called Iraq part of an "axis of evil" that sponsors terrorism and seeks to build weapons of mass destruction.

As well as testing the waters on a tougher policy against Iraq, Cheney was to talk to Middle Eastern leaders about spiraling Israeli-Palestinian violence.

He denied any linkage between the Israeli-Palestinian issue and Iraq.

"I'm sure they're linked in some minds, but the fact of the matter is, we need effective policies to deal with both situations," Cheney said.

Some Arab states have been pressing the United States for more U.S. involvement in the peace process -- including applying more pressure on Israel. It could figure into the degree of support the United States gets from the region if it decides for sure to move militarily against Baghdad.

In any event, Cheney aides said they expected both subjects -- Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis -- to come up at each stop.