http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/3/22/195724.shtml
Preparing for the inevitable, Iraq's mission to the United Nations has begun to reduce its operations. "We have heard nothing from our government since last night," confirmed Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Aldouri in an exclusive interview with NewsMax from his home on Saturday. It was on Friday, that Coalition forces unleashed a massive air attack on Baghdad which destroyed several major complexes, including several presidential palaces, the offices of deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz and the Iraqi foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Naji Sabri has not been seen or heard from since the Friday attack. On the current fighting, the ambassador claimed that the Coalition's success in capturing the Persian Gulf port of Umm Qasr "was no big deal, it is only a few small streets." What he did not mention was that Umm Qasr is Iraq's only outlet to the Gulf. Aldouri also confirmed that he ordered all diplomatic financial assets of Iraq's UN mission liquidated: "We have cashed in all our assets, we did so this week." The Iraqi move came as the White House on Thursday ordered the Treasury Department to seize nondiplomatic assets belonging to Baghdad. The State Dept. also urged nations around the world, as well the United Nations, to shut down Iraqi diplomatic operations and expel their diplomats. Two weeks ago, Washington expelled two security guards at Iraq's UN mission in New York. The ambassador expects more expulsions to come shortly. While phone lines to Iraq's UN mission on East 79th St. still remain up, the staff no longer makes attempts to answer calls. Various websites belonging to the Iraqi government are now "off-line." The website for the Iraqi UN mission has been taken down also. Aldouri tells NewsMax, "we just don't have the money for it now." The website closure came as UN chief Kofi Annan quietly ordered the closure of the Iraqi News Agency's UN office. UN workers tore out phone lines and confiscated furniture belonging to the news agency earlier this week. Even the name plaque posted outside the office "disappeared." Two weeks earlier, Washington ordered the expulsion of INA's UN correspondent Mohammed Alawi. Alawi had been accused by the State Dept. of "sabotage." It was a charge Alawi strenuously denied and one Washington would not elaborate on. The Iraqi ambassador told NewsMax that he has all but abandoned plans he earlier announced to fight the US/UK invasion in the UN Security Council or even the General Assembly. Even Arab diplomats at the UN have begun to look beyond Saddam. The talk in the halls is no longer how to protest the US invasion, but who will be the new Iraqi ambassador and just who will pay for the war? One Arab ambassador tells NewsMax that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have pledged "$50 billion" to the war and subsequent rebuilding of Iraq. xponent Self Interest Maru rob It's the beginning of a new love inside. You've got the way to make it all happen. Set it spinning turning roundabout. Create a new dimension. When we are winning we can stop and shout making love towards perfection. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
