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| Axis of Evil |
| Baghdad 'no' to new US conditions |
| 2002-09-28 |
| Iraq yesterday said it would not accept the new rules that the United States wants to impose on UN weapons inspections. "The stance from the inspectors has been decided and any additional procedure that aims at harming Iraq won't be accepted," Iraq's Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan told reporters. I did't notice that part that said they had a choice in the matter... Under threat of force, the United States wants to radically change the ground rules for UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, demanding access to any site and protecting inspectors with a security force, according to those familiar with a draft UN resolution. The proposed UN Security Council resolution, backed by Britain, would declare Iraq has already violated current UN demands and authorise military action if Baghdad fails to comply by accounting for its weapons of mass destruction. The document, to be introduced early next week, has been submitted to Russia, China and France which, along with Britain and the United States, have veto power in the 15-nation Security Council. Dunno what they're promising the Chinese and the Frenchies, but we can pretty well bet it's something. Just hope it's not something that's going to bite us in the collective butt ten years from now... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 One thing they may not wish is for the UN to lapse into irrelevance. If the UN does not support us in enforcing its own 16 resolutions Saddem Hussein has flouted what use are they? But for the French and possibly the Chinese the UN may remain a point where they can bring diplomatic pressure to bear on the US in an effective way. So if they veto our resolutions they risk destroying their own diplomatic venue. Of course, they may not fully realize this, even after Bush's speech to the UN. As for Russia, we may guarantee their debts owed by Iraq but I doubt we'll throw Georgia to them. |
| Posted by: Michael Lonie 2002-09-29 00:15:07 |
| #1 Okay, I can see what we might promise the Rooskies -- they get a free hand in Georgia, good deals on oil and a guarentee on any deal they have with Iraq. I simply don't see what the US/UK can promise either France or China that would make them willing to support the resolution, if they're of a mind to oppose it (as I suspect they are). What would the French WANT from us? I really can't think of anything that's realistic. We aren't going to sign the Kyoto accord, or join the ICC, for example. Likewise, what would China want? We're NOT going to walk away from Taiwan -- Bush would be impeached by his own party. China already has favorable trade terms, and we're already carefully looking the other way whilst the Chinese pound on their western, muslim minorities. If this is a horse-trade, what's our horse with these guys? I can't see it. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2002-09-28 14:59:42 |