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Frontline's* recent program, "The Survival of Saddam" was a disappointment insofar as sanctions were not discussed. However, the companion website <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saddam/> has some interesting information including interviews with Ahmad Chalabi, Tariq Aziz, Jalal Talabani, and others. Dr. Chalabi is the (most visible) head of the Iraqi National Congress, a well-funded dissident group which has historically defended sanctions (hence their dismissal by many as Armani-suited Quislings; see their policy statement at <http://www.inc.org.uk/english/issues/issue_4.htm>). However, in his interview Dr. Chalabi calls sanctions immoral and questions their effectiveness (snip below). In his interview, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz absolves the former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (Ms April Glaspie) of the charge that she "suckered" Iraq into the Gulf War (snip below). Mr. Aziz also explains Iraq's attitudes toward UNSCOM and sanctions, and repeats the claim that "... since ....1992, until (UNSCOM) withdrew from Iraq in 1998, they didn't find in Iraq a gallon of chemicals or biological weapons, or a functional missile ...". And in an unintentionally humorous segment, Mr. Aziz strives mightily (sweating bullets all the while, no doubt) to paint a picture of an avuncular, approachable Saddam: "... He listens to the ordinary citizens. He meets scores of people every week. Sometimes people go and see him just to give him an idea, or to complain about something personal or public ..." No word from Mr. Aziz on the ultimate fate of those complaining ... Regards, Drew Hamre Golden Valley, MN USA * Frontline is a weekly newsprogram televised nationally in the U.S. via PBS; "The Survival of Saddam" aired on Jan 25, 2000. --- [Chalabi Interview] <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saddam/interviews/chalabi.htm l> Chalabi: "... The policy, if it is only keeping sanctions on, is essentially immoral. Sanctions are not a policy. Sanctions are a very blunt instrument. Saddam is degraded. However, the situation of the Iraqi people is degraded more, because Saddam has first call on any resources that come into Iraq. The disparity in resources between Saddam and the Iraqi people is growing. The United States is having trouble maintaining sanctions on Iraq in the United Nations. Many people in the opposition are calling for the lifting of sanctions. Many people are not thinking of the geopolitical significance of enabling Saddam by giving him huge resources. But nevertheless, the tragedy of the Iraqi people is sufficient to blind them to this geopolitical threat, and they could support the lifting of sanctions. Most countries in the Security Council now support the lifting of sanctions. It is perhaps only the United States and Britain who say no, keep the sanctions on. So the United States is not making headway in its policy. It is a policy of diminishing returns." --- [Aziz Interview] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saddam/interviews/aziz.html Q: "Could you elaborate on the point about mixed signals sent by the U.S. during the run-up to the invasion of Kuwait? How did those influence your government's decision?" Aziz: "There were no mixed signals. We should not forget that the whole period before August 2 witnessed a negative American policy towards Iraq. So it would be quite foolish to think that, if we go to Kuwait, then America would like that. Because the American tendency . . . was to untie Iraq. So how could we imagine that such a step was going to be appreciated by the Americans? It looks foolish, you see, this is fiction. About the meeting with April Glaspie--it was a routine meeting. There was nothing extraordinary in it. She didn't say anything extraordinary beyond what any professional diplomat would say without previous instructions from his government. She did not ask for an audience with the president. She was summoned by the president. He telephoned me and said, "Bring the American ambassador. I want to see her." She was not prepared, because it was not morning in Washington. People in Washington were asleep, so she needed a half-hour To contact anybody in Washington and seek instructions. So, what she said were routine, classical comments on what the president was asking her to convey to President Bush. He wanted her to carry a message to George Bush--not to receive a message through her from Washington." -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full archive and list instructions are available from the CASI website: http://welcome.to/casi