Britain and US ready to raid Iraq again Foreign Affairs Breaking News News Keywords: BRITAIN AND US READY TO RAID IRAQ AGAIN Source: telegraph.co.uk Published: 2/19/2001 Author: Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor and Toby Harnden in Washington Posted on 02/18/2001 17:40:15 PST by TLBSHOW BRITAIN and the United States stood fast yesterday in the face of widespread international criticism of Friday's bombing of Iraq, pledging that allied forces were ready to attack Saddam Hussein again. Nearly 10,000 Iraqi people take to the streets yesterday to protest against Western air strikes on Iraq In Washington, there were indications that the air strikes could be the start of a much tougher American policy, involving support for the Iraqi opposition and a modified sanctions policy with the ultimate aim of removing Saddam from power. The attacks against radar installations and air defences south of Baghdad were the first time in two years that the increasingly isolated allies have attacked close to the capital. The strikes marked a sharp escalation in the "forgotten war" in the no-fly zones over southern and northern Iraq, designed to protect Kurdish and Shi'a populations respectively. Iraq has threatened "retaliation". But Russia, China, France and even Turkey - a strong Nato ally whose Incirlik air base is vital to maintaining the northern no-fly zone - have been sharply critical. Thousands of Iraqis marched through Baghdad to protest against the raids. Iraq sent a letter to Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, calling for UN condemnation of the attacks, which it said killed at least three people. President Bush described the action as "routine", but senior administration officials said it was designed to warn Saddam that the new occupant of the White House was determined to deal with the unfinished business of the Gulf War. Almost as the attacks took place, Edward Walker, assistant secretary of state, was meeting Ahmad Chalabi and other leaders of the opposition Iraqi National Congress. Mr Chalabi said he had been promised $30 million (£20 million) in American aid and told that sanctions could be changed so that they would help increase support for his group. "Air strikes must be within a comprehensive plan to get rid of Saddam." He said the Clinton administration had publicly supported the Iraqi opposition but privately undermined it. With the proper assistance and international political will, he added, Saddam could be ousted within a year. Richard Perle, a Bush campaign adviser and former assistant secretary of state under President Reagan, said he expected a "sharp increase" in help for the internal Iraqi opposition. This was the key to removing Saddam. "I don't see any other way of doing it. Sanctions can't be made tough enough. The West is not prepared to send in ground troops. It's got to be done by Iraqis. It's their country." The British Government mounted a concerted defence of the policy of containing Iraq through economic sanctions and military means. Officials said they were reviewing the decade-old sanctions policy and in the meantime were trying to do more to pin the blame for Iraqis' suffering on Saddam rather than on the sanctions. Under current UN resolutions, Iraq must sell its oil through the UN, which vets its imports. Britain and America say sanctions would quickly be lifted if Iraq readmits UN weapons inspectors. Iraq has challenged the air embargo by encouraging international "humanitarian" flights to Baghdad, and has resumed internal flights to Basra and Mosul, both within the no-fly zones. Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, said that unless the no-fly zones were maintained, there was a danger that Saddam would use air power to attack his own people. "Saddam will certainly express his military ambitions if he is given any chance to do so. This is a man who could plunge the region into war again if we allowed him to acquire the military capacity to do so." But these arguments are wearing thin at the UN, which has not backed the no-fly zones despite British and American claims to be acting "in support" of humanitarian provisions of UN resolutions. Russia denounced the "unprovoked action", adding: "This policy runs counter to the UN Charter and other international legal norms and exacerbates the already explosive situation in the Middle East." France, which has withdrawn from the no-fly zones, said the attacks would only exacerbate tensions. A French Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "This raises a question mark. We await an explanation from the American administration." There was condemnation across the Arab world, including the Arab League, Syria and Yemen. But the main Western allies in the region - Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan - stayed out of the limelight. _______________________________________________ Marxist-Leninist-List mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/marxist-leninist-list
