The US envoy, describing the decision as amounting to NATO involvement in Iraq, also raised the possibility of a "larger role" for NATO in Iraq in the future.

"The United States strongly supports today's decision by NATO to play a role in Iraq by supporting the Polish division in the stabilization force," he said.

"Today's decision will give NATO an involvement in Iraq," he said. "There's no question NATO is out on the frontlines in the global war on terrorism."

"I do not exclude the possibility that NATO could play a larger role in the future," he said.

NATO chief George Robertson was more measured in his description of the decision to task NATO military authorities to examine how they could help Poland, which is preparing to take command of a part of a multi-national stabilization force in Iraq.

"We're not talking about a NATO presence in Iraq, we are talking purely and simply about NATO help to Poland," said Robertson.

Burns meanwhile said the accord, by the 19-member Alliance's decision-making North Atlantic Council, would help to bury the crisis which engulfed NATO in February, when three anti-war countries -- France, Germany and Belgium - blocked an accord on supporting Turkey.

"We're very pleased that all 19 allies agreed to this today including France and Germany," he said.

"By agreeing to go into Afghanistan and today by agreeing to play a role in Iraq, NATO has overcome that crisis," he, referring to NATO's decision to take over the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

"This is a big step forward," he said.

WAR.WIRE