The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Hi people, Feel free to criticise these "talking points" (source at end) if you disagree with them. I hope you don't mind me posting things which focus on weapons/military action against Iraq rather than sanctions - this is a rather exceptional time. Seb ---- TALKING POINTS * Having pursued a predetermined campaign of false allegations and provocative interference in the work of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), the US administration has yet again succeeded in the manufacturing a crisis situation with a view to satisfying its appetite for military actions against Iraq. * In the mind of the US administration, Iraq has become an American business to be dealt with in whatever manner and with whatever means the US government finds it convenient to its own views and interests, irrespective of whether or not its actions vis-a-vis Iraq a truly in line with the resolutions and objectives of the United Nations. * Following the US-led war of destruction launched against Iraq in January-February 1991, the US government has not only employed every means and method and its disposal to ensure continued starvation and death of the Iraqi population under the sanctions, but also carried out a number of subsequent military attacks against Iraq and its people, non of which emanated from, or had any real grounds in, the resolutions of the Security Council Examples: * In 1993, the US perpetrated a full-scale air and missile raid on Iraq after fabricating a story about Iraq violating the so-called no-fly zone imposed on the southern part of the country. The "no-fly zone" is a US/British measure and has nothing to do with the United Nations or Security Council resolutions. * Another US attack was inflicted on the Iraq in the same year under the pretext that Iraq had been involved in some scheme to assassinate president George Bush while on a visit to Kuwait. This baseless allegation was in no way related to the Security Council or its resolutions. * In 1996, the US carried out another unilateral military attack against Iraq under the pretext that Iraq had responded to a call addressed by the Kurdish leader, Barazani , to president Saddam Hussein inviting the central government to intervene in order to help establish peace and security in northern Iraq. Totally unwarranted as it was, that US action was met with a wave of condemnation in the region and the world at large as it was an action perpetrated in flagrant violation not only of international law and the UN Charter, but also of the very relevant resolutions of the Security Council which the US government itself claims to be guided by. All those resolutions underscore the inviolability of, and stipulate respect for, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. * Having fabricated a crisis now, the US administration is currently engaged in some feverish process of escalation and seems very much on course to conducting a new military offensive against Iraq. Upon embarking on her tour to Europe and the Middle East to explain her government's planned action, Madam Albright made it clear yesterday that the US was ready to act unilaterally. * In the face of some an ominous threat, Iraq can only stress the following: a) that, despite any claim to the contrary, the US has no UN mandate to carry out a military strike against Iraq; nor indeed has the US had any such mandate for any of the military aggressions previously inflicted upon Iraq and its people. b) that, in view of the fact that any so-called standoff in the work of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) has in reality been more a bilateral US-Iraq standoff, caused by the American dominance of UNSCOM than a multilateral stand on part of the UN, Iraq may soon be forced to resort to the International Court of Justice in search of a solution to the problem. c) that, as President Saddam Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Tariq Aziz and Foreign Minister Mr. Mohammed Said al-Sahaf have all stressed, Iraq seeks no confrontation and wants to see all problems pertaining to the work of UNSCOM resolved through dialogue and by diplomatic means. Hence, while reserving to itself the right to self-defense, Iraq will continue to work with the Security Council and UNSCOM in order to finalize the completion of all requirements under the relevant SC resolutions. d) that the manner in which Ambassador Richard Butler, the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM, has conducted himself, while incompatible with the spirit of his UN mandate, has been tantamount to a conscious attempt at agitating a crisis. Iraq has tabled an official complaint with the UN Secretariat in this connection. e) that the claim recently made by Ambassador Butler to the New York Times and in his address to an American Jewish group, that Iraq is in possession of biological weapons "enough to wipe out Tel Aviv" while totally false and starkly provocative, expresses eloquently Butler's inherent allegiances and exposes his chronic failure to be under the UN mandate entrusted to him. * Butler's promotion of the US stand of Iraq along with his insinuations about the possibility of expanding further the "no-fly zone's" imposed on northern and southern Iraq and even imposing a naval blockade on Iraq's only sea port in Basra, can only be seen as an incitement for further harm to be inflicted on Iraq and its people. * Butlers reference to Israel in particular, as a possible target of Iraqi weapons is a naked attempt to invite and even justify Israeli participation in any forthcoming military aggression against Iraq. Iraqi-Australian Friendship Association of Victoria - Australia Fouad Elhage Editor In Chief --------------------------------------------------------------------- Al-Moharer Al-Australi A Journal of News and Information (Arabic/English) http://www.ozemail.com.au/~fouad/ or http://www.eisa.net.au/~fouad/ Email: fouad@ozemail.com.au or fouad@eisa.net.au --------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To be removed/added, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk, NOT the whole list. Do not respond to emails erroneously sent to the whole list.