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SAUDI PRESS ATTACKS SADDAM

Iraq News, JULY 25, 1999

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 .

I.  SAUDI PRESS ATTACKS SADDAM FOR JUL 17 SPEECH, UKAZ, JUL 18
II. SAUDI PRESS ATTACKS SADDAM FOR JUL 17 SPEECH, AL-JAZIRAH, JUL 18
   This is the second week of the seventh month without an UNSCOM/IAEA 
presence in Iraq, and Baghdad remains quiet.  Remarking on Amb. Rolf 
Ekeus' comment--in which Ekeus took issue with an unnamed administration 
official who told the Wash Post there was "no evidence" that Iraq was 
reconstituting its proscribed weapons programs [see "Iraq News," Jul 
18]--a well-informed US official told "Iraq News" that he was "appalled" 
by the anonymous administration statement and that "the Iraqis are a lot 
smarter than to provide evidence of chem or bio activities and hiding 
what I believe they are really doing is easy. . . . Thanks for pointing 
out informed statements like Ekeus'."
   RFE/RL's (Radio Free Iraq), "Iraq Report," Jul 23, also took 
exception to the Wash Post story, citing several reports, including one 
from Israel, suggesting that Iraq was reconstituting its proscribed 
weapons programs.  While explaining that there were grounds for the 
Israeli suspicions, "Iraq Report" concluded "other governments seem less 
concerned."  "Iraq News" doubts that.  The Saudis and Kuwaitis are 
certainly as concerned as the Israelis, while, as we shall see below, 
Turkey may well also have apprehensions.
   Haaretz, Jul 22, reported that in both his public and private 
meetings during his US visit, Ehud Barak effusively praised Clinton's 
action in Kosovo.  Iraq was one reason, according to Haaretz, "'The war 
in Kosovo,' Barak said, 'was a signal to dictators that if they cross 
the line, the free world, led by the United States, will be able to 
respond and act.'  Barak's audience understood exactly who he was 
referring to, even without him uttering the name of Saddam Hussein."
   Also, a joint statement, issued Jul 19, by Clinton and Barak said, 
"Another area of mutual concern that was discussed between the two 
leaders was the growing threat of WMD terrorism.  This was acknowledged 
to be an area in which both countries stood much to gain from each 
other's knowledge and experience.  In order to enhance their capability 
to deal effectively with this threat, it was agreed to sign a new MOU 
between their respective national security institutions.  It would 
facilitate broad cooperation between the various government agencies in 
both countries in all areas associated with preparing and responding to 
WMD terrorism."
   The Turkish Daily News, Jul 17, commenting on the slow pace of US 
efforts to overthrow Saddam, said, "Countries like Turkey are left 
holding the bag and paying a heavy price economically and otherwise.  
What if despite all the odds against him, Saddam develops some WMD, be 
they biological or chemical warfare materials or nuclear weapons?  Then 
what kind of containment are talking about?  With its newly developed 
capability, Saddam would definitely force everybody to rethink their 
policies and positions regarding Iraq.  And seven months after weapons 
inspectors pulled out of Iraq, we are not sure what Iraq has achieved in 
terms of continued development of WMD. . . .  In reality, if the United 
States and its allies decided that we cannot live with Saddam anymore 
and that results needed to be seen quickly, nothing short of an all-out 
war, as in the Gulf war, or the war in Kosovo would deliver results in 
line with the stated objectives."
   Indeed, that is the view of "Iraq News." Arm the INC, back it up with 
the full power of the US Air Force, and Saddam will not last very long.
   Since Saddam's Jul 17 Nat'l day speech, the Iraqi media has not 
reported any more meetings between him and senior Baath party cadres 
[see "Iraq News," Jul 2, 9.]   The meetings, it seems, were intended to 
lead up to and underscore Saddam's speech and his leadership role, along 
with that of the Baath party.  The last of those meetings, the 28th, was 
attended by Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, the party's # 2, seemingly 
highlighting its importance, relative to the earlier meetings.
   In his 28th meeting with Baath cadres, reported by Iraq Radio, Jul 
15, Saddam spoke in the same quasi-messianic way he did in his Jul 17 
speech [see "Iraq News," Jul 18].  "At the outset of his talk, the 
comrade leader said: Had we not been in constant need of correction, God 
the Almighty would not have dispatched prophets to alert us . . . God 
even talked to some messengers, so that they would correct the human 
beings He created. . . . A long time ago, I studied Islamic history, and 
after the revolution I got more acquainted with our history . . . One of 
the things that preoccupied me is how Prophet Muhammad's companions and 
their followers managed to co-exist under the authority, despite the 
fact that there were mistakes.  . . . Equally important was the 
relationship among the orthodox caliphs while in power after the passing 
away of Prophet Muhammad, may God's prayers and peace be upon him, or 
the relationship between the prophet's companions and the orthodox 
caliphs. . . . I used to ask myself: will we one day become like those 
people?  . . .
   "I believe that Almighty God wanted good for the Iraqis, the [Arab] 
nation, and mankind, because he offered them a model through a small 
country.  This country's population, area, and resources are not 
mythical.  It is a third world country with a population of 25 million. 
Others can thus derive meaning from our stand and no one can say: We 
cannot play Iraq's role, because our country has a small population and 
limited resources.  If the model presented to humanity were, for 
example, a country as big as China and India, they would say: We cannot 
present such a model.  . . . This does not mean going to them and 
attacking them, but rather fighting them within our boundaries and 
preventing them from attacking and enslaving us.  Did the brothers in 
Iraq not do that? . . .  As Iraq stood in the face of an aggression that 
used all forms of experience, plotting, and destruction, and as Iraq 
remained steadfast despite all this, therefore, others can confront 
aggression.  This is the example that you presented to mankind and to 
your nation." 
   Despite Saddam's statement to the contrary, it is extremely unlikely 
he intends to limit Iraq's actions to defensive measures only.  Most 
likely, Saddam intends some very serious payback for all that the US, 
and others, have done to Iraq.  And that, in his mind, constitutes the 
lesson for all mankind.  
   The Saudi press responded to Saddam's Jul 17 speech.  A Jul 18 
editorial in Ukaz, stated that stability, security, and a decent life 
can "not be achieved under a person who has the mentality, thinking, and 
ambitions of a man like Saddam Hussein.  The man is no longer deterred 
by religion, faith, ethics, or humanitarianism. . . . Millions of Iraqis 
are reeling under [his] despotic and autocratic rule and are being 
tortured and starved so that this ruler may satisfy all of his satanic 
whims. . . . He is a ruler who would not hesitate to provoke the whole 
world, even if the price meant that his people would have to live 
without air to breathe. . . Iraq is a country whose entire resources and 
riches have been employed for endless woes, oblivion, wars, and crises. 
The Iraqi people will continue to moan day and night . . ."
   An article in al-Jazirah, Jul 18, said, "In his speech on the 31st 
anniversary of the assumption of power of the ruling party in Iraq, 
Saddam Hussein insolently blamed all Iraq's problems and tragedies-which 
Iraq has been experiencing since Saddam and his clique took power-on 
Israel, the United States and the Arab Gulf states. . . . As for the 
Arab Gulf states, Saddam Hussein wants them to give in to his quixotic 
dreams and ambitions and declare him 'emperor' not only over Iraq and 
the Gulf, but also over all the Arabs!  It is true that some people are 
no longer ashamed of anything."
I.  SAUDI PRESS ATTACKS SADDAM FOR JUL 17 SPEECH
Jeddah 'Ukaz in Arabic 18 Jul 99 p 3 
[Editorial: "The Age of Setbacks"]
[FBIS Translated Text] In anything that represents a state on the face 
of earth, there can be no stability without assimilation with the 
international community and the world and within the state itself. Also,
there can be no security in the absence of mutual trust between the 
ruler and his subjects. There would be no decent life if there were no 
one to plan for the benefit of his nation and people. All of the 
aforementioned could not be achieved under a person who has the 
mentality, thinking, and ambitions of a man like Saddam Husayn. This man 
is no longer deterred by religion, faith, ethics, or humanitarianism 
that could help restore what can be restored of the ghost of the state 
that is left or what is left of the dignity of the people. The main 
preoccupation of the Iraqi people is what will become of them in terms 
of crises, poverty, and diseases-all of which are the result of the 
reckless, unjust, and selfish policies of their ruler.
  Millions of Iraqis are reeling under the despotic and autocratic rule 
and are being tortured and starved so that this ruler may satisfy all of 
his satanic whims, which have dragged his country and people into the
pitfalls of poverty and humiliation. The world has seen many tyrannical 
and despotic leaders but the characters that are combined in a person 
like Saddam Husayn almost make him unique among all of them. For there 
has never been anyone like him in terms of humiliating his people, 
obliterating their interests, and diminishing the basic needs that would 
enable them to have a simple life. He is a ruler who would not hesitate 
to provoke the whole world even if the price meant that his people would 
have to live without air to breathe. He does not object to this as long 
as he enjoys comfortable living and implements his despotic ideas that 
has put Iraq, which was one of the richest countries in the world, in 
its present situation.
   Iraq is a country whose entire resources and riches have been 
employed for endless woes, oblivion, wars, and crises. The Iraqi people 
will continue to moan day and night. They will continue to pray to God 
to lift the affliction and remove the injustice of the unjust ruler, 
which have befallen them, so that they may once again be an indivisible 
part of their nation and the international community.
II. SAUDI PRESS ATTACKS SADDAM FOR JUL 17 SPEECH
Riyadh Al-Jazirah in Arabic 18 Jul 99
[Article by Jasir 'Abd-al-'Aziz al-Jasir: "Some People Are No Longer 
Ashamed"] 
[FBIS Translated Text] It seems that a number of people who tenaciously 
want to remain in power, such as Saddam Husayn and others like him, 
greatly wish that Israel would stay. There is a simple reason for this; 
namely, if Israel is destroyed and Arab territories are liberated, then 
there will be no one to blame for their mistakes and crimes against 
their own people and other peoples.
   In his speech on the 31st anniversary of the assumption of power of 
the ruling party in Iraq, Saddam Husayn insolently blamed all Iraq's 
problems and tragedies--which Iraq has been experiencing since Saddam 
and his clique assumed power--on Israel, the United States, and the Arab 
Gulf states. We do not know how Israel, the United States, and the Gulf 
countries are responsible for the current situation in Iraq!
  We know that Israel usurped Palestinian territories, as well as 
territories from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. We also know that 
Israel conspired, and is still conspiring, against Arab countries. But 
what we also know is that all Arab countries dealt with the Israeli 
danger and threat in a way that is followed by all  nations that seek to 
protect their security and preserve their independence. In fact, the 
Arab countries whose land was occupied by Israel managed to restore 
their lands through honest fighting and resourceful diplomacy. The 
countries whose territory is still occupied by Israel are seriously 
working to restore this territory through peace or war.
   As for the Iraq of Saddam Husayn, its participation in Arab wars has 
always inflicted suffering on the Arabs. In the 1948 war, the Iraqi army 
said "we have no orders," thus exposing the eastern front and causing 
the capture of Janin and its environs. In 1973, Saddam Husayn's cousin, 
Lieutenant General Hardan al-Tikriti, conspired against Palestinian 
fedayeen. Besides, the results explain the objectives. Saddam  Husayn's 
actions and the fact that he split Arab ranks and weakened Arab power in 
the wake of his crime of invading Kuwait--the outcome of this crime 
forced the Palestinians to accept what was offered to them--show the 
great service done by Saddam Husayn to Israel, which he blames for 
Iraq's current situation.
   Leveling accusations against the Americans is the right of the Iraqis 
and the Arabs who are harmed because Saddam Husayn enjoys staying in 
power, while his people are facing hunger and displacement. Saddam is 
blaming the United States, which helped, in one way or another, to keep 
him as a dictator who tyrannized the people of Iraq. As for the Arab 
Gulf states, Saddam Husayn wants them to give in to his quixotic dreams 
and ambitions and declare him "emperor" not only over Iraq and the Gulf, 
but also over all the Arabs!
   It is true that some people are no longer ashamed of anything.