¡¡¡¡BERLIN, Germany, Feb. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Saturday criticized the move by France, Germany and Belgium, three key European members of NATO, to stall planning to protect Turkey in case of a war with Iraq.

¡¡¡¡Addressing a security conference in Munich, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the move by the three countries is "inexcusable."

¡¡¡¡"I can't imagine doing that, it is beyond my comprehension...Turkey is a member of the alliance. To prevent defensive capabilities -- just the planning, not even deployment -- I think that is inexcusable."

¡¡¡¡"Those preventing the alliance from taking even minimum measures to prepare to do so risk undermining the credibility of the NATO alliance," Rumsfeld said.

¡¡¡¡Turkey will be a front-line country if the United States and Britain launch a war on Iraq. The 19-member NATO failed to agree on formally asking military planners to look at measures to defend Turkey.

¡¡¡¡France, Germany and Belgium insisted that such planning could undermine diplomatic efforts to avert a conflict. The alliance has to decide by Monday whether to start the planning.

¡¡¡¡Rumsfeld said "delaying preparations sends a signal of uncertainty, instead of a signal of unity and resolve."

¡¡¡¡"If the international community once again shows a lack of resolve, there is no chance that Saddam Hussein will disarm voluntarily or flee _ and thus little chance of a peaceful outcome." Enditem