Iraq News by Laurie Mylroie
The 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 .
III. VICIOUS ATTACK ON SAUDI ARABIA, AL-JUMHURIYA, FEB 17
IV. THREATS TO SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT, AL-IRAQ, FEB 18
V. MORE THREATS, AL-QADISIYAH, FEB 18
VI. NO FLY ZONES ARE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, AL-THAWRAH, FEB 21
III. VICIOUS ATTACK ON SAUDI ARABIA
Baghdad Al-Jumhuriyah in Arabic 17 Feb 99 pp 1, 2
["A Word" column by Dr. Salman Zaydan: "The Saudi Rulers and the Satan's
Whims"]
[FBIS Translated Text] The statement issued after the Iraqi leadership's
meeting on Sunday, which examined the current situation and the
confrontation of the US-British aggression on our national airspace with
the practical help and participation of the Saudi and Kuwaiti rulers,
did not only aim to recall the seriousness of this situation and its
repercussions on the state of affairs in the region, particularly on the
sources and means of the aggression, but it also had clear implications
and objectives.
This statement cautioned the rulers in Najd, al-Hijaz, and Kuwait
that they should stop their detestable hostility, which is doing further
harm to Iraq and killing more Iraqi women, men, children, and old
people. It also warned these rulers against the grave consequences of
deliberately continuing the destruction of the Iraqi people's civil
property by playing an infidel and lowly role that serves their US
masters who want to take revenge on Iraq and its faithful will and also
on the patience of the great Iraqi people.
Given the fact that the Saudi and Kuwaiti rulers have for many years
been showing this erratic hostility and drowning themselves in sins up
to their rotten heads--because they pretend to be affiliated with
tolerant Islam, which has nothing to do with them--they are now living
in the corners of the Satan, treason, humiliation, and corruption.
These rulers also seek to keep all the factors harming and
destroying the Arab nation, on the one hand, while widening the sea of
blood between them and the Iraqi people, who have offered sacrifices
based on the meanings of the deep faith in God, the noble principles of
tolerant Islam, and the implications of the faithful pan-Arab
responsibility, on the other. What is the meaning of this shameful
conduct of the evil traitors who went down to the abyss, stabbed the
Arab nation and Iraq in the back, and allowed the infidel foreigner to
step on the Arab and Muslim sanctities after they colluded with him in
order to strike at the faithful, struggling, mujahid, lofty, and great
Iraq?!
To begin with, we say that the hostile, treacherous, and lowly
conduct of the Najd and al-Hijaz rulers practically removes the sanctity
of the holy land because it was turned into a scene for the infidel
Americans and their British allies who use this land as a springboard
for the daily attacks on the sincere believers in great Iraq. Iraq
rejects falsehood and tells the truth, but it was afflicted by these
lowly and rascally rulers who learned from their masters the telling of
lies, rancor, malice, disinformation, and charlatanism after their
masters removed from their hearts, conscience, and minds all the noble
meanings as well as the honor of manliness and position.
We do not know how the Saudi ruler can call himself the custodian of
the two holy mosques at a time when events as well as his own hostility,
rancor, treachery, and all his actions prove that he is actually the
custodian of hateful Zionism and of the despotic state and its erratic
administration?
Perhaps, the most prominent and clearest example is the current
deviant conduct of this ruler who could not even distinguish between the
national interests of his own people and country and the US and Zionist
hegemony that tries to achieve its expansionist ambitions by continuing
the rotation of the petrodollar profits and working for the elimination
of the free Arab will.
Another fact that should be pointed out is that 40,000-50,000 US
troops are desecrating the holy land in Najd and al-Hijaz. Moreover,
there are stored weapons and equipment for these troops, in addition to
the large-scale facilitation this humiliated and lowly ruler extends to
the enemies of the Arab nation, Islam, and Iraq. There are also 440
aircraft, including 397 US aircraft stationed on the waters and soil of
this ruler.
These forces did not come to the holy land in Mecca and Medina or to
the Arab waters for the purpose of military tourism but rather to
achieve long-term strategic ambitions. This was confirmed by Norman
Schwarzkopf, an infidel American, who said: "Here exists the elixir of
the West's life." This region has 70 percent of the world oil reserves
with a hypothetical age up to the end of next century, whereas the
industrial and other states only have 55 percent of the world oil
reserves with a hypothetical age not exceeding the first decade of the
coming century.
Hence, is the Saudi ruler, who stabs the national and pan-Arab
interests in the back and continues his wrongdoing and crimes against
Arabism, Islam, and the Iraqi people really "a custodian of the two holy
mosques" or rather a custodian of Zionism and the infidel United
States?! But if he does not proceed in this direction, then he is
duty-bound to lead the mujahidin against falsehood and should vie with
the Iraqis for confronting and thwarting the evil because the Iraqis are
Arabs and Muslims and are defending the rights and noble values on the
national, pan-Arab, and humanitarian levels.
We pose this question to the loafers in the Saudi newspapers of
Al-Riyad, 'Ukaz, and Al-Nadwah who, exactly like their rulers, have
followed the Satan's whims and the desires of their US and Zionist
masters and joined their mean and malicious tone that calls for taking
revenge on Arabism, great Iraq, and its mujahid leadership and enduring
people.
Let these ones and others know that the anger of an ignorant one
appears in his words while the anger of a sensible one appears in his
deeds. Thus, everyone should know that the anger of the honorable ones
appears in their deeds and not only in their words.
I swear by God that the most cowardly ones are those advocating
falsehood when they are checked by the faithful owners of rights.
IV. THREATS TO SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT
Baghdad Al-'Iraq in Arabic 18 Feb 99 pp 1,6
[Editorial: "We and the Campaign of Lies and Hatred in the Media of the
Traitor of the Two Holy Mosques"]
[FBIS Translated Text] The Saudi trumpets, represented by the corrupt
Saudi media that is impregnated with rancor and grudges and the feelings
of hatred that are deeply embedded in the hearts of this straying clique
which claims to be Arab, have launched a fierce campaign against lofty
Iraq that stands fast against the aggression and the US aggressors whose
planes pour their evil fire on our holy land from the bases of treason
and deception in the land of Najd and Hejaz and Kuwait.
The papers that speak on behalf of the traitor of the two holy
mosques began in past days to publish provocative articles instigating
against Iraq and criticizing it in a cheap way to distort the statement
by the Iraqi leadership which honestly and with a sense of
responsibility expressed the feelings of the Iraqi people and the Arab
masses on the need to adopt effective and serious actions to end US
military belligerence and violation of our air space and attacks on our
territories that daily wound and kill people.
The details, expressions, and purport of the Iraqi leadership's
statement are clear. The statement aims to enlighten the rulers of Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait and counsel them to stop treading the dark path and
concocting conspiracies, and to refrain from remaining immersed up to
their ears in the evil plans targeting Iraq and the Iraqi people and
exposing Iraq's national fate and sovereignty and the security of its
people to dangers with dire consequences.
From the premise of genuine national feeling and the righteous
principles of Islam and in abidance by the prophet's saying that
religion is advice, the Iraqi leadership's statement expressed an honest
course of action in a language and form that honestly and surely
embodies the many values and ideals, religious, national, and pan Arab
commitments in which Iraq of the struggler and believer Saddam Husayn
believes.
The Iraqi leadership confirmed in its statement that the leaders of
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are following a dangerous and destructive course
by practically taking part in the US aggression on our territories and
people. Therefore, they are committing a grave and unforgivable mistake
and crime because they participate in attacking an Arab and Muslim
country, killing its people and exposing its national resources,
cultural, civilization, humanitarian, and industrial achievements to
total destruction to please their masters in Washington, London, and Tel
Aviv.
Because the Saudi media is its master's voice and because it is
master at only changing and distorting facts and spreading lies, the
hate campaign by the media of the traitor of the two holy mosques
against the Iraqi people was launched as a desperate attempt to deceive
the masses of Najd and Hejaz and warn them against Iraqi threats which
only exist in their minds that are void of anything noble, honest, and
true.
Free lofty Iraq is not used to jumping over the facts, resorting to
lies and cheap deception, or playing games which the US media machines
and their lackeys in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait master. The honest Iraqi
leadership is clear in all its actions and statements. We have become
accustomed to clear concepts and logic, and explicit statements, as it
is not in our habit or part of our conduct or principles to play with
words as it is a cheap industry that has its people.
As for us, we just state facts and place them in front of our people
and the Arab masses. Don't you agree with me?
V. MORE THREATS, IRAQI LEADERSHIP STATEMENT
Baghdad Al-Qadisiyah in Arabic 18 Feb 99 pp 1, 2
[Article by Hani Wuhayyib:"Our Valiant Resistance and the US Feeling of
Isolation]
[FBIS Translated Text] We demonstrated a valiant steadfastness in
confronting the recent US-Zionist aggression and valiant resistance to
the violation of the sanctity of our national airspace by the US and
British aircraft. One of the most prominent results of this has perhaps
been the ultimate exposure of the exclusive US-British role in launching
the treacherous aggression against Iraq without having any cover, albeit
feeble international authorization, or pretext. In spite of the silence
of some countries and regimes over the aggression and the lack of
seriousness by others in condemning it, there has been extensive
condemnation of the aggression. Numerous countries, including permanent
members of the Security Council, condemned the aggression and there has
been growing Arab and international popular condemnation of the
aggression. All of this has exposed the aggressor nature of the
tendentious US position against Iraq.
Furthermore, the manner with which the valiant Iraqi national
resistance has confronted the violation of our airspace by the US and
British aircraft and the courage of the Iraqi air defenses in pursuing
the raiding aircraft have exposed the aggressor and destructive goals of
these aggressor aircraft. They have exposed the goals of these intensive
sorties and in such large numbers of formations, the size of damage to
life, equipment, and property, and their direct targeting of civilian
targets. They have also more clearly revealed the bases from which they
are specifically launched and from certain and known bases in the Saudi,
Kuwaiti, and Turkish territories and waters. Moreover, it has become
clear to everyone which countries are the main parties to the aggression
and which countries and sides participated in the aggression in a direct
and frank manner. All of this cannot be concealed by any cover and no
pompous or naive denial can blot out the facts that are visible to the
whole world on the screens of Arab and world television networks. For in
addition to the admissions by US and British military commanders such as
Zinni and Robertson and others and to the forces that are already
deployed on the Saudi and Kuwaiti territories, the US and British forces
and fleets are continuing their build up in the Arab Gulf waters.
There are so many names of US and British aircraft carriers,
destroyers, and warships that have become known to everyone. In fact,
the world media has been following their routes and their passage
through the oceans and international waterways and until they anchor in
their bases in the Arab Gulf. They include the Enterprise, Invincible,
and Newcastle, and the aircraft carrier Carl Vincent from which some of
the aircraft currently take off to attack Iraq. It is one of several
aircraft carriers that arrived and are anchored in their bases in Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait since the middle of December. The Carl Vincent alone
is escorted by 8-12 warships and destroyers that are deployed in the
same place. It has a crew of around 5500 marines and pilots and several
of them made statements to the press in which they affirmed that they
were welcomed by the Saudi and Kuwaiti leaders and that they extended
financial and logistical support. They also affirmed that they attack
their targets in Iraq without any consideration for the outcome because
according to them, this is within the jurisdiction of the US leadership.
When asked by journalists as to why they were attacking civilian
targets, they did not deny this. Some of them used the excuse that
mistakes do happen due to lack of accuracy and frankly and implicitly
admitted that they attack Iraqi civilian targets at US orders. Thus, the
US and British evil and aggressor aims behind the violation of the Iraqi
airspace are revealed.
Iraq had cautioned the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and
explained the seriousness of their participation in this clear and
blatant aggression against Iraq and of the ability of Iraq to continue
to defend itself and to reach the sources and means of aggression. When
it did that, the United States quickly portrayed this caution as a
threat by Iraq. Albright launched her futile threats of what she
described as a swift and firm response to Iraqi threats to attack the
air bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from where the US and British
aircraft take off to attack Iraq.
Thus, Albright once again admits that their hostile aircraft take off
from the Saudi and Kuwait territories to attack Iraq. Pentagon spokesman
Kenneth Beacon hastened to affirm that the United States was capable of
attacking Iraq with lightening speed and estimated that the aircraft
would continue to launch their raids as long they continue to come under
Iraqi fire. However, he did not stop to ask himself as to what were the
US aircraft doing in Iraqi airspace to make them come under Iraqi fire.
This man and others in the US Administration may have been deluded into
thinking that flights of the US and British aircraft over al-Basrah,
Mosul, al-Najaf, Dhi Qar, Dahuk, or Irbil are taking place over Chicago
in the north of the United States or over Florida in the south. He may
have also been deluded into thinking that the Iraqi missiles were
following these aircraft there. US Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig
on Tuesday began what he called an inspection tour of the Arab Gulf. The
information regarding the meaning, motives, and timing of this
suspicious tour at this particular time indicate that it is intended to
set in motion a continuing violation of Iraqi airspace by the US and
British aircraft. The tour is also intended to ensure the availability
of the logical support that would facilitate the continuation of their
hostile missions. Furthermore, the Zionist Jew Sandy Berger, US national
security adviser, also commented on the caution that Iraq addressed to
the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. He regarded the Iraqi caution
urging them to refrain from allowing the US and British aircraft to take
off from Saudi and Kuwaiti territories and airports as an Iraqi attempt
to isolate the United States. He warned Iraq against this and threatened
it of what he called the consequences of its positions.
Thus, we have the US contentiousness and feverish endeavors to impose
the US hegemony over the entire world and some have submitted to the
United States and bowed to its demands of implementing its hostile
schemes against Iraq. There is also the magnificent Iraqi steadfastness
that embodies the spirit of the Arab nation against the
US-British-Zionist aggression and its continuation through the violation
of our airspace. Moreover, there is the rise of our valiant resistance
to this violation and the clarity of the just Iraqi demand for halting
the aggression and lifting the blockade and the growing Arab and
international support for these just demands. All of this has deepened
the feeling of the US Administration of the isolation of the United
States in terms of its exclusive role in the aggression and the collapse
of the international cover with which it wants to delude the World and
world public opinion. This has also deepened its feeling of the costly
price that it will have to pay as a result of its continued aggression
and the escalating valiant resistance by Iraq against this barbaric and
blatant aggression. Furthermore, this feeling also reminds the United
States of its defeat in Vietnam. The Iraqi lesson of heroic
steadfastness is also robbing the United States of its sleep because it
has opened the door wide for the growing struggle of the nations against
US hegemony thus tightening its isolation and exposing its hostile aims
to strangulate the free will of the nations. This will of the nations
will free itself from its chains and tear apart the arms of the US
octopus. Tomorrow is not far.
VI. NO FLY ZONES ARE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Baghdad Al-Thawrah in Arabic 21 Feb 99 p 2
[Commentary by Malik Mansur: "The No-Fly Zones Are Meant for Murder and
Destruction"]
[FBIS Translated Text] Despite the exposed lies and claims that the US
Administration is trying to propagate using all means in order to
justify the imposition of the no-fly zones in northern and southern
Iraq, the facts on the ground and the facts related to the ongoing US
aggression against our country strongly and indubitably confirm that the
no-fly zones were enforced as part of the plot against Iraq. They were
to be used as a weapon to threaten the unity and sovereignty of Iraq and
to try and influence the national resistance of the Iraqi people. With
the passage of time and following every failure and defeat of its
plots and following its realization that it cannot influence the beliefs
and firm national options of the Iraqi people, the US Administration is
now wagering on escalating its provocations and its violation of our
national air space. It wants to turn the no-fly zones into yet another
tool to kill the Iraqis and destroy their property in order to avenge
their steadfastness, their firm adherence to their national options,
their fateful cohesion with their struggling leadership, and their solid
determination to protect the sovereignty and independence of Iraq no
matter what the sacrifices.
After realizing the deep significance and profound meanings of the
Day of the People, the Day of the Banner, the Day of Chivalry, and the
Day of Conquest, the US Administration has concluded that its
aggression and conspiratorial machinations against Iraq have reached a
dead end and its wagers and illusions have lost and dissipated despite
all the resources it has mobilized. Thus, this hallucinating
administration saw no option before it but to turn the no-fly zones into
a dirty weapon to spread savage terrorism and blind revenge, and into a
means to destroy civilian installations and hurl bombs and missiles on
residential quarters. With this vengeful barbarism, the US and British
planes are daily and intensively violating the sanctity of Iraqi air
space. These planes are committing deliberate and organized provocations
and hurling their bombs and missiles at towns, civilian installations,
and residential areas in order to kill in cold blood more civilians from
the sons of the struggling Iraqi people. These are crimes that fall
under the category of organized international terrorism. The murder of
innocent civilians, including children, women, and elderly; the
destruction of homes over the heads of their inhabitants; and the
endangering of the lives and peace of mind of our steadfast people in
the northern and southern regions is the epitome of international
terrorism. It is a terrorism practiced by a big power and its lackey who
claim that they fight international terrorism, defend human rights, and
respect the UN charter and the rules of international law. This is, of
course, a big and insolent lie that is becoming more apparent to
international public opinion with each passing day.
Therefore, national, pan-Arab, and human duty and responsibility
behooves everyone to frankly and firmly condemn the no-fly zones imposed
on Iraq and the resulting crimes of murder and destruction that are
tantamount to international terrorism. Silence over the international
terrorism and the daily murder and destruction that is being inflicted
by the United States and Britain on the people of Iraq will encourage
them to practice the same kind of international terrorism against any
other country that is targeted due to its rejection of US hegemony. The
steadfast and struggling Iraqi people, the valiant Iraqi armed forces,
and the capable and honest Iraqi leadership have resolved to firmly and
strongly repulse the US-British aggression and their despicable
international terrorism. To protect its sovereignty, independence,
and dignity, Iraq will make all the sacrifices that are necessary. The
aggression will inevitably be defeated and the will of the Iraqi people
will triumph.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
