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| Iraq |
| Arabs Narrow Differences on Iraq |
| 2003-03-01 |
| Arab foreign ministers drafted Friday a compromise text that seems to satisfy both Iraq and the Gulf Arab states, such as Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, which are hosting the U.S.-led military buildup in the region. The draft calls on "Iraq's neighbors to abstain from joining any military action against the country, its security and territorial integrity," and "absolutely reject a war against Iraq." Any change in the region frightens them. That frightens me... It is seen as satisfactory to Kuwait and Gulf Arab states bound by defense pacts with the United States as they can argue that, in the event of a war, they are not directly participating in the attack and that U.S. forces operating out of its territory are doing so under U.N. cover. Or not... "We do not trust Iraq, but we want a peaceful settlement to the crisis and avoid war," Kuwaiti Information Minister Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah told reporters. "Kuwait will not participate in any military action against Iraq," he said, while adding that the emirate, as a U.N. member, was bound by international law." He pointed out that U.N. Security Council resolutions on Iraq were taken under Chapter VII of the charter, which allows military action to enforce them. He also explained that the defense pact signed with the United States after the February 1991 liberation of the emirate from a seven-month Iraqi military occupation was "the security guarantee of Kuwait in the face of Iraqi threats and imposes obligations" on the emirate towards the United States. They might want to adhere to them, too. If the U.S. were to be beaten up enough diplomatically that we took our toys and went home, there wouldn't be an awful lot of support next time around when Sammy decided he'd like to go back to having 19 provinces again. All the momentum would be lost, and the antiwar wieners would be pointing to how we'd lost this time as a justification for not getting involved that time... Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa told reporters that "there is total agreement between Arab states. "The summit will send a clear message to everybody that we cannot support military action against Iraq and that we are for the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions," he added. We demand to have it both ways..." Diplomats said the leaders will also consider a blueprint for action that includes sending a three-country delegation to Baghdad, Washington and to the United Nations to mediate in the stand-off. "A blueprint for action" that consists of nothing but talk... Nearly half the 22-member League are represented at the summit by heads of state, and the others, including Iraq and Kuwait, by top ministers and officials. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |