-Caveat Lector- Plan or ploy? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Iraq rejects Saudi plan to ease sanctions Kuwaiti military on alert BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq on Monday rejected Saudi Arabia's proposal to ease sanctions against Iraq, reiterating Baghdad's stance that the U.N. embargo must be lifted completely. Tension among Arab Gulf nations was also underlined Monday when Kuwait announced that part of its military was put on full combat alert, following a threat by the Iraqi parliament to withdraw recognition of Kuwait. ALSO: U.S. jets fire missiles in northern Iraq Saudi newspapers reported an initiative on Sunday to ease U.N. sanctions on Iraq to ease the plight of the Iraqi people. The sanctions were imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Saudi Arabia reportedly recommended that Iraq be allowed to buy and sell all goods -- except military equipment or material that could be used for military purposes. But Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz rejected the idea of a partial lifting of sanctions. "Iraq totally rejects the so-called Saudi initiative reported by Saudi newspapers based in London," Aziz said in a statement carried by the official Iraqi news agency. He accused Saudi Arabia of having supported the recent bombing raids of Iraq by the United States and Britain, meant as punishment for Iraq's non- cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors. "Therefore, it is not expected that Saudi Arabia comes up with a sincere and positive proposal in favor of Iraq," Aziz said, referring to the country as "party to the recent aggression against Iraq." Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf also accused both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait of conspiring to destroy Iraq. Tariq Aziz "They are participating in an American and British conspiracy to divide Iraq. They are doing their utmost and (are) spending limitless amounts of money in order to continue keeping sanctions against Iraq," Aziz said. Kuwaiti military on alert In a tangible sign of mounting tension in the region, Kuwait said on Monday that it had put part of its armed forces on full, combat ready alert in response to Iraqi "threats" to Gulf Arab states. Iraqi parliament In a special two-day session on the U.N. sanctions issue, members of Iraq's parliament had raised the specter of rejecting all U.N. Security Council resolutions and withdrawing recognition of Kuwait. However, the chamber eventually backed off from such a resolution on Kuwait. U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen repeated on Monday that Washington was ready to act militarily if Baghdad threatened Kuwait. Iraqi newspapers reported Monday that Hussein, chairing his second Cabinet meeting this year, asked his ministers to outline measures they had taken in anticipation of further airstrikes. Arab world divided The Saudi sanctions initiative apparently is aimed at calming the Arab public, which has become increasingly concerned about the suffering of Iraq's 22 million people under the sanctions, according to observers. But the Saudis and their allies also are becoming increasingly irritated at Hussein, who has called on Arabs in other nations to rise up and overthrow leaders who do not support Iraq. On Sunday, the official Saudi Press Agency urged Iraqis to oust Hussein. The call was echoed by Egypt's Foreign Minister, Amr Moussa, in comments published Monday in a Berlin newspaper. "Iraq is a rich country that has become poor under Saddam Hussein's regime. We are of the opinion that he is no longer capable of being responsible for his country's politics ... Iraq needs a new government," Moussa was quoted as saying by the Berliner Kurier newspaper. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
