suffianr
12th February 2003, 17:16
Here's an interesting snippet:
Iraq envoy: US war machine won't stop even if Saddam quits
Arfa'eza A Aziz
2:07pm Wed Feb 12th, 2003
The United States (US) will not abandon its plan to attack Iraq even if President Saddam Hussein steps down. Recently appointed Iraq Ambassador to Malaysia Kais Al-Yacoubi said the US' main aim was to destroy Iraq and Saddam's position in the country is not an issue that can sway the position.
"They (the US) will not stop the war even if Saddam steps down. The real aim is to stop Iraq. It is not Saddam. Everbody knows that. They know that too," he said in an exclusive interview with malaysiakini o*n Monday.
When asked to comment o*n allegations that Saddam is a repressive leader to his 20 million subjects, Kais said the Iraqis are ready to stand behind their president to fight against the Americans and to defend their home.
"Iraqis are intelligent people. If they don't like him, then why did they elect him again last October - as you know there was a referendum. The Iraqis are behind their leader - ready to fight the Americans. This outrages the Americans. The Iraqis are armed, they have trained themselves, they are ready for the Americans, if they come," he said.
He also claimed that the possible war which the US is trying to initiate is being pushed by Israel who feels threatened by his country, the o*nly o*ne in the Arab region with the willpower to stop Israel from further repressing the Palestinians.
"Israel is using cannons, aeroplanes, helicopters to kill the Palestinian people. Israel openly said that if the Iraqis are stopped, so willl the Intifada...then Israel can impose whatever they want o*n the Palestinians."
"There is of course another reason. The US wants to control the Iraqis' oil. They both have interest - but each o*ne has its own reason for war," he said.
Asked how big their oil reserve is, Kais said: "Well...it is big enough to make the Americans come all the way here over thousands of miles to fight against us."
As to the presentations by the US Secretary of State Colin Powell before the United Nations Security Council last week alleging that Iraq still has weapons of mass destructions hidden, he said US itself knows that it has failed to state a case to start a war.
"You actually do not have to ask me that. You can go to America's allies: France, German, Belgium...they are all not comvinced with what Powell had presented. If they are not convinced, there is nothing for us to say," he said.
He said it is obvious that the US is alone is its bid to start a war and it is willing to undermine the UN by stating that they would start the war without the UN's resolution.
He also said that without the full suport of the international community, the US will face hardship if they decide to go o*n with the war.
"They are already finding it hard to convince people that they have reason to start this war. So I imagine that it would be harder for them when they actually start this war. People will look at each step they would be taking and question them, as they did not agree with the war in the first place," he said.
When asked o*n allegations that Iraq has failed to comply with Resolution 1441, the disarmament resolution made after the 1990 Gulf War, he said his government has been cooperating with the UN weapons inspectors since 1992.
Read the rest at http://www.malaysiakini.com
Iraq envoy: US war machine won't stop even if Saddam quits
Arfa'eza A Aziz
2:07pm Wed Feb 12th, 2003
The United States (US) will not abandon its plan to attack Iraq even if President Saddam Hussein steps down. Recently appointed Iraq Ambassador to Malaysia Kais Al-Yacoubi said the US' main aim was to destroy Iraq and Saddam's position in the country is not an issue that can sway the position.
"They (the US) will not stop the war even if Saddam steps down. The real aim is to stop Iraq. It is not Saddam. Everbody knows that. They know that too," he said in an exclusive interview with malaysiakini o*n Monday.
When asked to comment o*n allegations that Saddam is a repressive leader to his 20 million subjects, Kais said the Iraqis are ready to stand behind their president to fight against the Americans and to defend their home.
"Iraqis are intelligent people. If they don't like him, then why did they elect him again last October - as you know there was a referendum. The Iraqis are behind their leader - ready to fight the Americans. This outrages the Americans. The Iraqis are armed, they have trained themselves, they are ready for the Americans, if they come," he said.
He also claimed that the possible war which the US is trying to initiate is being pushed by Israel who feels threatened by his country, the o*nly o*ne in the Arab region with the willpower to stop Israel from further repressing the Palestinians.
"Israel is using cannons, aeroplanes, helicopters to kill the Palestinian people. Israel openly said that if the Iraqis are stopped, so willl the Intifada...then Israel can impose whatever they want o*n the Palestinians."
"There is of course another reason. The US wants to control the Iraqis' oil. They both have interest - but each o*ne has its own reason for war," he said.
Asked how big their oil reserve is, Kais said: "Well...it is big enough to make the Americans come all the way here over thousands of miles to fight against us."
As to the presentations by the US Secretary of State Colin Powell before the United Nations Security Council last week alleging that Iraq still has weapons of mass destructions hidden, he said US itself knows that it has failed to state a case to start a war.
"You actually do not have to ask me that. You can go to America's allies: France, German, Belgium...they are all not comvinced with what Powell had presented. If they are not convinced, there is nothing for us to say," he said.
He said it is obvious that the US is alone is its bid to start a war and it is willing to undermine the UN by stating that they would start the war without the UN's resolution.
He also said that without the full suport of the international community, the US will face hardship if they decide to go o*n with the war.
"They are already finding it hard to convince people that they have reason to start this war. So I imagine that it would be harder for them when they actually start this war. People will look at each step they would be taking and question them, as they did not agree with the war in the first place," he said.
When asked o*n allegations that Iraq has failed to comply with Resolution 1441, the disarmament resolution made after the 1990 Gulf War, he said his government has been cooperating with the UN weapons inspectors since 1992.
Read the rest at http://www.malaysiakini.com