Iraq's Position in the Confrontation
Iraq News, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1998
By Laurie MylroieThe central focus of Iraq News is the tension between the considerable, proscribed WMD capabilities that Iraq is holding on to and its increasing stridency that it has complied with UNSCR 687 and it is time to lift sanctions. If you wish to receive Iraq News by email, a service which includes full-text of news reports not archived here, send your request to Laurie Mylroie .
I. UNSCR 1205, CONDEMNS IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF UNSCOM MONITORING, NOV 5
II. US CLOSER TO AIRSTRIKES, WASH POST, NOV 7
III. THE SPECIAL SPIES OF UNSCOM, IRAQ TV, NOV 3
IV. IRAQI PRESS DEFIANT, REUTERS, NOV 5
V. AL THAWRAH, US MUST NOT USE LANGUAGE OF THREATS, INA, NOV 6
VI. BA'TH LEADER, IRAQ WILL NOT BEND, IRAQ TV, NOV 6
VII. IRAQI PRESS DEFIANT, REUTERS, NOV 7
VIII. INDICTMENT OF OSAMA BIN LADEN, FOR CONSPIRACY, NOV 4
This is the 94th day without weapons inspections in Iraq and the
seventh day without UNSCOM monitoring.
On Thurs, Nov 5, the UNSC passed Resolution 1205. It "condemns"
Iraq's suspension of UNSCOM monitoring and "demands" that Iraq "rescind
immediately and unconditionally" its decision. As Fri's Wash Times
noted, the UNSC has passed at least 45 resolutions since Iraq invaded
Kuwait.
Sec Def Cohen returned to Wash DC Fri night, having completed his
Middle East tour, with visits to the UAE, Oman, Egypt and Jordan on
Thurs, and Turkey on Fri. Meanwhile, NSC Adviser Sandy Berger left for
Paris for weekend consultations with his French and UK counterparts.
Also, Fri, UNSCOM announced it intended to withdraw some 25 staff
from its 120 member team in Baghdad over the next few days.
Although some, including Iraq, wanted UNSG Kofi Annan to assume a role
similar to that in the last confrontation, Annan seems to be having none
of it. Reuters, Nov 7, reported he had left for a 10-day trip to
Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, with his spokesman saying he
had no plans to go to Baghdad and was letting the UNSC handle the
crisis.
It is increasingly being reported that the US is moving toward
military action against Iraq. ABC Evening News reported that Fri and as
did the Wash Post Sat. According to the Post, and ABC, the choice is
between two basic plans--one undertaken with US forces now in the region
and another that would require increased deployments and some weeks to
get US forces there. But according to the Post, "There still is no
consensus . . . on what long-term policy goals are attainable with
force." As one official explained, "I think you have to assume that
UNSCOM doesn't survive a strike.'" And "Despite indications this week
that the administration was tilting toward the eventual use of force,
there were no signs of the kind of last-minute preparations that might
be expected to precede a major military operation against Iraq. 'We're
in a three-point stance, but nothing is happening,' said a high-ranking
commander who would be involved in mobilizing additional forces.
'There's a big option and a little option, and we haven't received a
head nod which way.'"
As former Asst Sec Def, Richard Perle, told the Forward, Nov 6,
"Saddam is clearly able to jerk us around. . . . This arrogant talk of
having Saddam in a box. Saddam has them in a box. He jerks their
string whenever he feels like it. They look pathetic."
This issue deals with Iraq's position on the emerging confrontation;
the next issue will deal with the position of the regional parties.
It should be kept in mind that Saddam can change his mind, when and if
he decides. But so far, Iraq has taken a hard line since its Oct 31
announcement suspending UNSCOM monitoring. On Nov 2, Dep Prime Minister
Tariq Aziz and Foreign Minister Mohammad Sahhaf addressed the Nat'l
Assembly, as it met to ratify the RCC/Ba'th party decision on UNSCOM
monitoring. In a lengthy speech, broadcast on Iraq TV, Nov 2, Sahhaf
said, "The Zionist role in UNSCOM is an old one that began since its
formation and is related to the so-called US-Israeli Coordination
Committee for facing the so-called Arab armament programs. This
committee was formed between the Zionist entity and the United States in
1988. This committee was the channel used by the Americans to implant
the Zionists, in addition to the US spies, in UNSCOM. . . . The
information we received showed that they have admitted several elements
into UNSCOM. These elements are not only Zionists from Israel, but also
from other nationalities, including Australia and Sweden. The
information spoke about the spies whom they admitted in the UNSCOM
committees who came to Iraq with fake names and false passports. They
are Colonel Ronin Hakham Khaduri, from Iraq's Branch of Military
Intelligence, [AMAN]; Lieutenant Colonel Yisrael Nasim Shahay, who works
at the Arab Affairs Branch of the Mosad; Lieutenant Colonel Gideon
Daniel Shamshoni, a Jewish immigrant from the United States with both
Israeli and US nationalities and who works for the intelligence and his
father was working in research on missile and aircraft development; and
Lieutenant Colonel Friedman Jacob Rex who works in the Zionist Military
intelligence and is an expert in the atomic field."
The next day, Nov 3, Iraq TV carried a three-minute program entitled
"The Special Spies Commission." It included reference to the alleged
UNSCOM members Sahhaf mentioned. Over video showing activity of UNSCOM
inspectors, the announcer said, "Do you dear viewers, know who are the
spies of UNSCOM who crept into Iraq using fake names and passports under
the cover of UNSCOM. Here they are: "Colonel Ronin Hakham Khaduri, from
the Iraq Branch at the Zionist Military Intelligence, AMAN, Lieutenant
Colonel Yisrael Nasim Shahay, who works at the Arab Affairs Branch at
the Mosad" & etc. As the FBIS monitor explained, "Video then shows
inspectors searching papers, desks, and garbage bins while fast-beat
music is playing in the background. The Star of David appears at the
top of the screen. Video also shows UN vehicles moving in a caravan
style slowly. The announcer then says 'These are the Zionists of UNSCOM
who are being protected by the mentor of all Zionism around the world:
The United States of America.'"
On Nov 4, as Iraq TV reported, a spokesman for Iraq's Information
Ministry, commenting on Sec Def Cohen's tour of the Gulf, said, "The
Iraqi people will not be intimidated by the US threats, the same as they
have not been intimidated in the past by the hundreds of thousands of US
soldiers, warplanes, missiles, and bombs during the criminal and brutal
aggression in 1991. The official spokesman stressed that the Iraqi
people are determined to stop the farce of the Special Commission and to
put an end to its corrupt policy, which is based on perpetuating the
siege through procrastination, delay, lies, and forgery and on the
spying on the vital interests of Iraq and its security in the interest
of the US and Zionist intelligence services."
On Nov 5, as Reuters reported, "Iraq newspapers. . . poured scorn on a
draft UN Security Council resolution that would condemn Baghdad for
suspending cooperation with UN weapons teams, saying it would not make
Iraq reverse its move. The press also dismissed as a failure a tour by
US Defense Secretary William Cohen. 'Whatever the British drafted
resolution and whatever its final shape, Iraq will not retreat from its
decision unless the Security Council responds to Iraq's legitimate
rights,'" al-Thawrah said. Al-Qadissiya wrote, "Let them (the US and
Britain) employ all their options, but Iraqis who rally around their
leader Saddam Hussein are determined to maintain their leadership
decision until the unjust embargo is lifted," while Babil attacked
Cohen, in a front-page story headlined, "A failing tour and threats that
would not scare us."
On Nov 6, as INA reported, Al Thawrah "scorned the [US] resumption of
the language of threats and intimidation, the talk about 'military
pressure, open options and possible unilateral action,' as well as the
claims of 'international authorization' to use force by the US
administration and its Zionist staff." It concluded, "Those who truly
believe in their nationalist and patriotic causes do not respond to the
US language of threats by concessions and submission, but with the
appropriate language. They face each situation with the appropriate
means and methods."
Also, on Nov 6, as Iraq TV reported, Abd al Ghani Abd al Ghafur, a
member of the Ba'th Party regional command and secretary of the party's
Students and Youth Central Bureau, "affirmed that Iraqi will not rescind
its decision to halt cooperation with the UN Special Commission unless
there is a clear response to the legitimate Iraqi demands regarding
lifting the unfair embargo. . . . In a speech to the inauguration of the
12th general congress of the Arab Students Secretariat, comrade Abd al
Ghani Abd al Ghafur continued: The bellicose statements made by US
administration officials and Cohen's tour will only reap defeat. The
Arab nation, its territorial waters, and its territories will remain
opposed to aggression against steadfast and Arab Iraq regardless of the
attempts at blackmail and threats."
And, today, Reuters reported, again that Iraq remained defiant. In
the first comment by an Iraqi Minister since the passage of UNSCR 1205,
Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Salih said, "We do not fear any military
strike. We are ready to confront any military strike," while the Iraqi
press echoed his defiance. Al Jumhuriya said, "Iraq will stick to its
decision and will not retreat until its legitimate rights on lifting the
trade embargo are met.... The Iraqi people and leadership are fully
prepared for confrontation," while Babil wrote "that although Iraq did
not seek a military confrontation with the Untied States, if it
happened, 'we say welcome to the battles of fate.'"
Finally, after the last issue, "Iraq News" received yet one more
puzzling request from the Ministry of Justice of a Western European
state to be added to the list. Why would a Ministry of Justice be
interested in "Iraq News"? As "Iraq News" considered that question, an
idea came to mind. The last issue dealt with terrorism. Probably, that
is the counter-terrorism people. If so, "Iraq News" is grateful for a
Gov't that can understand that the US, despite it's being the world's
only superpower, its technological prowess & etc, made a terrible
mistake in its handling of terrorism. In the process, it has confused
itself, and others, about the nature of the present-day terrorist
threat. There is no new kind of terrorism, as the US Gov't maintains,
and individuals have not replaced states as the principle source of
major terrorist attacks, only the investigations are politically
constrained and, by now, rather garbled.
An indictment for conspiracy, one of the two issued Wed against Osama
bin Ladin, was posted on the web. It states that from 1989, until the
present, "an international terrorist group existed which was dedicated
to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. This
organization grew out of the 'mekhtab al Khidemat' (the 'Services
Office') organization which had maintained (and continues to maintain)
offices in various parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Pakistan,
(particularly in Peshawar) and the United States, particularly at the al
Kifah Refugee Center-in Brooklyn. . . . The international terrorist
group (hereafter referred to as 'Al Qaeda') . . . has functioned both on
its own and through some of the terrorist organizations that have
operated under its umbrella, including the Islamic Group (also known as
'al Gamaa Islamia' or simply 'Gamaa't'), led by co-conspirator Sheik
Oxar [sic] Abdal Rahman; the al Jihad group based in Egypt; the 'Talah e
Fatah' ('Vanguards of conquest') faction of al Jibad [sic], which was
also based in Egypt, Which faction was led by co-conspirator Ayman al
Zawahiri ['al Jibad'[sic], Palestinian Islamic Jihad and a number of
Jihad groups in other countries, including Egypt, the Sudan, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya, Pakistan, Bosnia, Croatia,
Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Chechnya,
Bangladesh, Kasmir and Azerbaijan."
Is the US Gov't, or at least the Justice Dep't, claiming that Islamic
fundamentalism is one big criminal conspiracy? If so, should it be
likened to the earlier Int'l Communist conspiracy? Or the Int'l Zionist
Conspiracy to which Iraqi Foreign Minister, Mohammad Al-Sahhaf, alluded
in this issue of "Iraq News?"
Perhaps, there is a legal purpose in making such a claim. But as a
description of political events it is nonsense, fit for wrapping fish.
And by minimizing and downplaying the role of states in Middle East
terrorism, it contributes directly to the deaths of the innocents--
Americans and others--which has followed from the Clinton
administration's approach to terrorism.
III. THE SPECIAL SPIES OF UNSCOM
[FBIS Report] Baghdad Iraq Television Network in Arabic at 1500 GMT on 3
November carries a three-minute program entitled "The Special Spies
Commission" making reference to the UN Special Commission [UNSCOM]
members who were mentioned by Foreign minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf
in the first referent item. Audio and video reception is fair. The
program begins with close-up and medium shots of people who appear to be
UNSCOM members standing outdoors at night talking together, some are
taking photographs with their cameras. UN cars are seen on the site. The
video stops here and an announcer, in the studio, says the following:
"Iraq was not far from the truth when it accused UNSCOM of spying on
Iraq's vital and sensitive sites and security facilities.
This truth has now become as clear as the sun. Do you, dear viewers,
know who are the spies of UNSCOM who crept into Iraq using fake names
and passports under the cover of UNSCOM? Here they are: "Colonel (Ronin
Hakham Khaduri), from the Iraq Branch at the Zionist Military
Intelligence, AMAN; Lieutenant Colonel (Yisra'il Nasim Shahay), who
works at the Arab Affairs Branch at the Mosad; Lieutenant Colonel
(Gid'on Dani'el Shamshoni), a Jewish immigrant from the United States
carrying both Zionist and US nationalities, his father worked in special
research on developing missiles and aircraft; (Friedman Jacob Rex),
works in the Zionist Military Intelligence and is an expert in the
atomic field."
Video then shows inspectors searching papers, desks, and garbage bins
while fast-beat music is playing in the background. The Star of David
appears at the top of the screen. Video also shows UN vehicles moving in
a caravan style slowly. The announcer then says: "These are the Zionists
of UNSCOM who are being protected by the mentor of all Zionism around
the world: The United States of America."
After the above statement, the programmed ended. It was carried again
at 1635 GMT.
V. AL THAWRAH, US MUST NOT USE LANGUAGE OF THREATS
Baghdad INA, in Arabic 1010, GMT 6 Nov 98
[FBIS Translated Text) Baghdad, 6 Nov (INA)-- An Iraqi political writer
has advised the US Administration to cast off the language of threats
and intimidation when addressing states and peoples and to stop seeking
opportunities to attack Iraq.
In a frontpage article in Al-Thawrah, organ of the Arab Socialist
Ba'th Patty today, Sami Mahdi scorned the resumption of the language of
threats and intimidation, the talk about "military pressure, open
options, and possible unilateral action," as well as the claims of
"international authorization" to use force by the US Administration and
its Zionist staff. He said: It seems that this administration, with its
well known Zionist staff, is still harboring the illusion that the
highhanded language which holds peoples, states, and human dignity in
contempt, could realize its objectives in all parts of the world and
with all. countries without exception.
Mahdi added that the US Administration does not seem capable of
imagining that there are states, peoples, and patriotic leaderships,
such as Iraq, its people, and militant leadership, who reject this
language categorically and refuse to submit to its crooked logic, and
who have the courage and willpower to confront it with resolve and
firmness and make the required sacrifices on the battlefield.
The writer recalled the failure of the US-led 30-state aggression
against Iraq and how the Iraqi people confronted three more military
aggressions and did not retreat in facing this tyranny. He said that
Iraq continues to be the same, the country of the mother of battles with
the same leadership, people, pride, and adherence to its legitimate
rights and to its principles in expressing the power of the resistance
and the Arab nation's glory.
Mahdi pointed out that Iraq is continuing to demand its rights amd
defend itself. It has not threatened or attacked anybody. It has
continued to encourage international organizations to solve the dispute
by peaceful means. Iraq followed in the footsteps of these organizations
in its legitimate demands and the defense of its rights.
The writer said that Iraq's (?decision) against the deviant UN
Special Commission, which is manned by spies, is a sovereign decision
recognized by international law [words indistinct]. It has not
surprised anybody by its decision, which was adopted after full
preparations and many warnings, the last of which is the 1eadeuship's 5
August statement.
Concluding his article, the writer said: Those who truly believe in
their nationalist and patriotic causes do not respond to the US language
of threats by concessions and submission but with the appropriate
language. They face each situation with the appropriate means and
methods.
[Description of source: Official news agency of the Iraqi Government]
VI. BA'TH LEADER, IRAQ WILL NOT BEND
Baghdad Iraq Television Network in Arabic 1600 GMT, 6 Nov 98
[Announcer-read report over video, from "The Evening Newspaper" news
feature]
[FBIS Translated Text] Comrade 'Abd-al-Ghani 'Abd-al-Ghafur, member of
the Iraq Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [ABSP] and secretary
of the Students and Youth Central Bureau affiliated with the ASBP, has
affirmed that Iraq will not rescind its decision to halt cooperation
with the UN Special Commission [UNSCOM] unless there is a clear response
to the legitimate Iraqi demands regarding lifting the unfair embargo. He
added that US threats will not undermine the willpower of our people,
thanks to the wise and courageous leadership of leader President Saddam
Husayn, who seeks to safeguard their dignity and sovereignty.
In a speech to the inauguration of the 12th general congress of the
Arab Students Secretariat, comrade 'Abd~a1-Ghani Abd-a1-Ghafur
continued: The bellicose statements made by US Administration officials
and Cohen's tour will only reap defeat The Arab nation, its territorial
waters, and its territories will remain opposed to aggression against
steadfast and Arab Iraq regardless of the attempts at blackmail and
threats.
Comrade 'Abd-al-Ghani 1Abd-al-Ghafur urged Arab students to continue
to pursue academic excellence and pursue the struggle to achieve Arab
unity and liberate Palestine from the capitulatory plans aimed at
liquidating the Palestine question.
'Imad Nassur delivered a speech on behalf of the Arab Students
Secretariat. In his speech, he affirmed that the Arab masses support the
decision made by the Iraqi political leadership under pan-Arab leader
Saddam Husayn to halt all UNSCOM activities, which shows that there is a
great and genuine national and pan-Arab determination to confront all US
and other imperialist plots and the unfair blockade.
Jamal 'Abd-al-Karim delivered a speech on behalf of professional
organizations. In his speech, he noted that Iraq, under the courageous
leadership of leader President Saddam Husayn, is careful to host Arab
functions and gatherings. He added that this is an indication of
solidarity and struggle to pursue the cultural plan aimed at achieving
renaissance which regards Iraq as a model of Arabism and
humanitarianism.
The conferees will discuss the role the Arab Students Secretariat
will play in enlisting support for Iraq under mujahid leader Saddam
Husayn in the course of his efforts to confront the unfair blockade
Additionally, the secretariat will support his courageous decision,
Moreover the secretariat will discuss the efforts it can make to support
the Palestine question, which is experiencing drastic transformations as
a result of the capitulatory plans aimed at achieving a settlement.
Additionally, the secretariat will discuss other pan-Arab causes.
The inaugural session of the congress was attended by the deputy
director of the Arab Students and Youths Pan~Arab and Trade Union
Affairs Bureau, which is an affiliate of the National Command of the
ASBP, as well as directors and members of other National Command
bureaus. [video shows 'Abd-al-Ghafur and others delivering speeches]
[Description of source; Official television station of the Iraqi
Government]
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