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]
News, 27/411/5/02 (titles) This mailing covers the last two weeks, when nothing was sent owing to continuing problems with computers etc. I hope these are now being resolved, but thereıs many a slip ... The fortnight saw the end of the Iraqi oil export stoppage, postponement of discussions with the UN over return of the inspectors and smart sanctionsı, President Husseinıs birthday, apparent abandonment of the Prague connection (and with it the chances of proving an Iraqi/Al Qaida link), and great confusion over the policy to be pursued with regard to the Iraqi opposition. IRAQI-UN RELATIONS * Annan Reports Progress in Iraq Talks * Security Council vote on Iraq sanctions delayed IRAQIS OUTSIDE IRAQ * Saddam agents in Australia: exiles * The exiles [A long article. I have given extracts on the British mandate and on politics among the Iraqi exile community.] IRAQI OPPOSITION * Iraqi Opposition Group Halts TV Broadcast * Harassing the Iraqi National Congress [Extracts. Some still rather vague background details suggesting that the shutdown of the INC radio was a result of State department opposition. Apparently the SD wants to support the Middle East Institute, but its director has declared that Mr Bushıs axis of evilı phrase is ridiculous. Since the INC is supposed to include the Iran-backed SCIRI, we may assume thatıs what they think too but in the Land of Free Speech you donıt get grants for saying what you think ...] * US action on Iraq slowed by rift over whom to support [Fuller account of the problems surrounding support for an Iraqi opposition and on the conference that was much talked about a few months ago, which was supposed to show that there was a coherent and credible alternative to Saddam. Not stressed here that it was supposed to consist mainly of Sunni military men (or was that another conference?). We learn in passing that the INC advocate a constructive policy on the Arab-Israeli conflictı. What, we wonder, does that mean, and is it likely to enhance the groups democratic credentials within Iraq?] THE PRAGUE (DIS)CONNECTION * Newsweek: Czech Officials Say Story That Sept. 11 Hijacker Atta Met with Iraqi [Its taken quite a long time for this to get out, though it should have been obvious six months ago to anyone following these newsmailings.] * Czechs assert Atta met with Iraqi spy [Its still just an assertion that he was in Prague in April 2001, still no apparently convincing evidence.] CULTURAL MATTERS * Baghdad's 'flourishing' art scene [But why, if Iraq ³is the 'cradle of civilizations', once home to the Sumerians, the Assyrians, Abbasids and others² should Iraqi artists boast of going to Europe to learn to paint, especially since the best European art of the century has been an effort to recover the values that were current among the Sumerians, the Assyrians, Abbasids and othersı.] * British Museum welcomes Iraq library project IRAQI-MIDDLE EAST/ARAB WORLD RELATIONS * Oman: Baghdad will not be bombarded from our lands * Moussa: Iraq will return back archives and documents for Kuwait TRADE * Iraqi oil shipments to start tomorrow: Official * U.S. probes cigarette sales to Iraq AND, IN NEWS, 27/411/5/02 (2) IRAQI-UK RELATIONS * Blair says no attack on Iraq without UN assent * Tory Warns of Attacks on Iraq [First glimmerings of thought on this matter within the Tory Party?] * Caged for 90 years: Real IRA trio plotted deal with Saddam [This real IRA/British Intelligence fantasy seems to be the closest weıre going to get to any recent Iraqi terrorist activity in the US or UK.] INSIDE IRAQ * Inside a vile republic [Iraqi defectorıs tales.Supported by Charles Duelfor so they must be true. But isnıt it stretchng things a little to say: Saddam's tyranny trains and finances Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist movement. According to the defector, it was Iraq which taught Hamas how to make bombs.ı Is there no-one in Saudi Arabia who knows how to make bombs? Havenıt the Palestinians themselves a fairly impressive track record in the field?] * Happy birthday Mr President. But your party masks a nation living in fear [Guardian] * Farming sector under biological attack says Iraq * Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Al-Hakim [Obituary for Shiıite leader.] * Millions of Shiite flux into al-Najaf, Karbalaa * Inside Saddam's World [Very long account of life in Iraq. Rather short on political analysis. Extracts.] * 'Happy are those' who see sites in Iraq * The Road of Death remembered [The massacre on the road to Basra, which still hasnıt found an adequate chronicler.] IRAQI-US RELATIONS URL ONLY: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/10/1021002391082.html * The siege of Baghdad by Gay Alcorn Sydney Morning Herald, 11th May [A very long article summarising the present state of US policy but not I think adding very much to our knowledge onthe subject. Concludes with the remarkable statement from ex-Clinton adviser, Kenneth Pollack that Saddam has threatened or attacked every single one of Iraq's neighbours.ı Really? Syria?, Jordan?, Saudi Arabia?, Turkey?] _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk