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]
The Philadelphia Inquirer 2-10-2000 "THE SOIL OF LEBANON WILL BURN ?" In the case of Iraq, the US demands strict enforcement of UN resolutions and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis die as a result. Madeleine Albright, acknowledging the devastating toll of the sanctions against Iraq, assures us that "it is worth it." Nine years after Iraq's crushing defeat, after subsequent bombing campaigns, after UN supervised destruction of weapons, and the never-ending strangulation of sanctions, the Clinton administration continues to assert that Iraq poses a threat to its neighbors. Under the leadership of the US, the murderous siege of Iraq will continue until they prove the impossible: that they do not and never will possess weapons of mass destruction. In the case of Israel, the administration does not call for respect of international law. For 18 years the US has disregarded UN Resolution 242, whereby Israel is directed to withdraw its occupation force from Lebanon. The US does not use its considerable influence on Israel to demand it return to its borders. After Israeli occupation forces are attacked within Lebanon, Israel retaliates against civilian targets. To this aggression Clinton administration expresses "understanding for the Israeli air assaults." In this context Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy has vowed that if Israel is attacked, "the soil of Lebanon will burn." (2/10/00 Philadelphia Inquirer). How can anyone cause soil to burn? This thinly veiled threat of nuclear attack is a threat the people of the Middle East hear loud and clear. Just last week an Israeli Knesset representative courageously exposed the 300 nuclear warhead arsenal possessed by his nation. Israel's nuclear threat against neighboring Lebanon should be roundly condemned. The silence of the US is predictable and will encourage more belligerent aggression. Weapons of mass destruction and threats by leaders to use them on their neighbors are an urgent problem in the Middle East today. You just have to know where to look. Robert Allen 5 Awbury Rd. Philadelphia, Pa 19138 215-438-4181 -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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