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]
From: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021107_1072.html Iraq Gov't Media Denounce U.S. Draft Iraqi Government Media Denounce Latest U.S. Draft Resolution As a Pretext for War The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq Nov. 7 — Iraq's government-controlled media on Thursday denounced the latest U.S. draft resolution on weapons inspections as a pretext for war against Baghdad and urged the U.N. Security Council not to bow to American demands. "America wants to use this resolution as a pretext and a cover for its aggression on Iraq and the whole Arab nation," the ruling Baath Party newspaper Al-Thawra said in a commentary. "The Security Council should not give (the Americans) a pretext and a cover for the coming aggression." Despite the criticism, Iraq's ambassador to the Arab League in Cairo reiterated the government's view that Iraq would not reject outright a new U.N. resolution, but would study and consider what comes out of the Security Council. "We are ready to deal with any new Security Council resolution which will be issued in accordance with international law and previous Security Council resolutions, providing it respects Iraq's sovereignty and independence," Mohsen Khalil said Thursday after a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. President Saddam Hussein, meanwhile, accused the United States and Britain of pressuring the Security Council to vote on resolutions that contradict international law and world opinion, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported. During a reception for the visiting Malaysian information minister, Saddam said, "There are two administrations that violate the international law ... the American administration ... and the British administration." The United States is pressing for a vote this week on its revised draft, which was submitted Wednesday following eight weeks of intense lobbying by the American administration. It strengthens the authority of U.N. weapons inspectors and demands that Iraq provide "immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, and unrestricted access to any and all" areas, presumably to include presidential palaces that Iraq has sought to keep off-limits in the past. While the revised draft includes a greater role for the Security Council, it still frees the United States to take military action against Iraq if inspectors say it isn't complying. "The new aggressive U.S. draft resolution is full of dictation and demands accompanied by war threats that should be fulfilled by Iraq while ignoring a decade of Iraqi cooperation with the international body," said the newspaper Babil, owned by Saddam elder son Odai. In a front-page editorial, Babil expressed hope that Russia and France would prevent American moves that "would turn the international body into a tool to implement U.S.-British schemes." Echoing that view, Al-Thawra said the Council "should shoulder its responsibilities to prevent the U.S. planned aggression on Iraq." On Monday, Saddam indicated he would not reject outright a new U.N. resolution, saying Iraq wanted to look at the conditions first. However, he said Iraq would not accept any resolution that go against "the interests, security and independence of Iraq." "The most important thing is that we don't let America get the international cover for its aggression," Saddam said. On the streets of the Iraqi capital, people appeared resigned to the possibility of war. Some pinned their hopes of veto-wielding council members, Russia, China and France to block any resolution that opens the door to a U.S. attack. "We can do nothing but to hope that France, China and Russia would oppose the U.S. draft resolution on Iraq," said Subhi Mahmoud, a grocery store owner. _________________________________________________________ Check your email always! Anytime, anywhere, with Maktoob Mobile http://www.maktoob.com _______________________________________________ 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