Topeka ? The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was confident Friday the United States would have “great support” if the nation went to war against Iraq.

“After all, it is the U.N. Security Council resolution — it’s the world — saying to Iraq that it must disarm,” Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers told reporters.

Myers, who was honored along with Nobel Prize winner and microchip inventor Jack St. Clair Kilby by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas, said Iraq had had more than a decade “to get it right” and destroy all its weapons of mass destruction.

“We’re trying to put the necessary force and ‘oomph’ behind the diplomatic efforts to get the Iraqis to do the right thing,” Myers said.

His comments came as NATO’s new military commander was in Turkey, trying to soothe concerns of Iraq’s northern neighbor that the United States was rushing into conflict.

Myers said Turkey was a great ally and did not express concern about the Turkish reluctance.

“We’re talking to them on a daily basis. I’ll let Turkey speak for themselves,” Myers said.

Following the banquet, Myers was to address 600 soldiers of the 35th Infantry Division at Forbes Field in Topeka as they prepared to deploy for peacekeeping duties in Bosnia. The National Guard unit has headquarters at Fort Leavenworth and is made up of soldiers from several states, including Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

A force of 1,500 soldiers were scheduled to leave through Sunday for a yearlong mission. The event was closed to the media.

Myers said the military morale and readiness were high despite the demands caused by the peacekeeping duties and the U.S. war on terrorism.

“This is deadly serious business,” Myers said. “It’s certainly the most challenging thing in my military career.”