Posted on 02/05/2003 5:52:28 PM PST by kattracks
No change in position despite 'persuasive' U.S. argument
OTTAWA - Despite a "disturbing and persuasive" argument that Iraq is trying to deceive UN weapons inspectors, Canada will await further word from the inspectors themselves before deciding whether to join the United States in any military response.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said today that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell made a convincing presentation to the UN Security Council suggesting that "Iraq seems to be trying to fool" UN teams searching Iraq for caches of forbidden weapons.
But, Graham added, Canada will await the decision of the council later this month before deciding on a course of action.
We are not at a point where there is a need to use force," he told a news conference. "However, we don't have much time left."
Graham was reacting to Powell's long-awaited speech at the UN, in which he detailed U.S. allegations that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has defied UN demands to rid his country of chemical and biological weapons.
The minister said the matter rests with Hans Blix, the chief arms inspector, who is to return to Iraq this weekend and will report back to the council Feb. 14.
"We need to give that inspection system a last chance, maybe one, maybe two, over a couple of weeks," Graham said. "If Dr. Blix comes back with a report saying that under no circumstances has Saddam Hussein any intention of co-operation with the inspectors at that point ... the other consequences have to flow."
Saddam has to show he's willing to disarm and to co-operate. If he doesn't, "the world has to take action to enforce its resolution," Graham said.
Powell outlined a circumstantial case, including satellite photos, intercepted communications and the word of unidentified informants, which suggested that Iraq maintains stocks of chemical and biological weapons and is hiding them from inspection.
Graham said he was impressed by Powell's willingness to use top secret material, even against the advice of security authorities.
"One thing that was somewhat surprising to me was the fairly extensive use of highly classified security materials, which usually the United States and other governments are very reluctant to provide," Graham said.
While he said Powell didn't provide a smoking gun, he did show a suspicious pattern of conduct by Iraq.
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper urged the government to side firmly with the United States, which says it will act unilaterally against Iraq if it deems such a move necessary, even without approval from the world body.
"What is the benefit now of giving Saddam Hussein the benefit of the doubt?" Harper asked the House of Commons.
Outside the House, Harper said Canada should take a stern stand.
"I think we should declare with our allies that Iraq is in material breach (of UN demands) and in order to increase the pressure on Saddam Hussein, that we should be redeploying in the Gulf region."
Alexa McDonough of the NDP told the House that Powell's "so-called evidence" proved nothing. Her party's position is that nothing justifies war against Iraq.
The Canadian Arab Federation said Canada should be trying to restrain the apparent U.S. zeal for war.
"Colin Powell is asking us all to take quite a big leap of faith ... to believe these assertions are proof that Iraq is producing weapons of mass destruction," said Audrey Jamal, the group's executive director.
She said she wants to see a diplomatic solution.
There were others who were suspicious about Powell's claims.
Shahina Siddiqui, a board member with the Canadian branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Powell was repeating old claims.
"I don't find it a convincing argument for war," he said.
He brushed off the tapes of alleged intercepted communications between Iraqi officers.
"Those tape recordings, I'm sorry, but these days anything can be manufactured."
Imad Khadduri, a former Iraqi nuclear scientist who immigrated to Canada in 1999 and works as a college computer instructor in Toronto was equally skeptical.
"The so-called evidence provided is threadbare," he said. Allegations about nuclear weapons "are flimsy, they are not true and I can disprove all of them with facts, because I lived them."
He said he worked on Iraq's nuclear weapons program from 1968 until after the Gulf War, when the project was destroyed.
Powell is spreading "disinformation," he said.
Khadduri conceded, however, that he had no personal knowledge of chemical or biological weapons stock.
Brian MacDonald of the Atlantic Council, a think tank that tracks UN issues, said the problem is that people are asking the United States to prove its case against Iraq, when the onus should be on Saddam to prove he doesn't have banned weapons.
So far, Canada has said it will await the decision of the Security Council, but Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has not closed the door on joining the United States without further UN approval.
I believe you. It's your leadership that worries me. (None of us are perfect - we have DemocRATic leadership that fails day in/day out to reflect the values of the general populace).
It is inconceivable to me to think that the Canadians are not allied with us. As countries, we've always been good neighbors - like Peanut Butter and Jelly or Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
In times of trouble the US would not abandon Canada.
J.Q.
PAK TODAY.com - PAKISTAN TODAY: "THE FRANCHISING OF HEZBOLLAH" by Avi Davis (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Western intelligence has now revealed a high level of cooperation between Bin Laden and Imad Muganiyeh, the Hezbullah terrorist who masterminded some of Hezbollah's most spectacular atrocities and kidnappings in Lebanon. Reports have Muganiyeh first meeting with Bin Laden as early as 1995 and those meetings have continued. More than this, since al-Qaida fled Afghanistan at the end of last year, the Sunday Telegraph reports, between 80 and 100 al- Qaida fighters were provided with false passports by Hezbollah before being relocated to southern Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The same report acknowledges that Hezbollah, working hand in hand with al-Qaida, has set up cells in the Far East - including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. It is well known that Hezbollah has operated in Gaza and the West Bank for years, but the recent revelation by the Shin Bet in Israel that al- Qaida has now also joined them there, is chilling evidence of a level of cooperation previously unsuspected. Such news comes as a dire warning to American, Israeli and Jewish communities throughout the world.") (122702)
ALBAWABA.com: "IS HIZBULLAH INVISIBLE LEADER INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES IN CANADA?" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In the United States, authorities believe that perhaps one of the world's most wanted men is behind the Canadian organization, which has raised funds, falsified documents and purchased military equipment for Hizbullah. In Washington, officials currently suspect that the agents sent to Canada to gather support for the Hizbullah work for Mugniyah, a top-level Hizbullah leader and the suspected mastermind of numerous attacks worldwide.") (120102)
***FBI.gov: MOST WANTED TERRORISTS: "IMAD FAYEZ MUGNIYAH" aka "Hajj" (WANTED POSTER SNIPPETS: "Mugniyah is the alleged head of the security apparatus for the terrorist organization, Lebanese Hizballah."..."The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension and/or conviction of Imad Fayez Mugniyah."..."SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "A DOZEN PAKISTANIS ARRESTED IN CREDIT CARD FRAUD PROBE" by Jerry Seper (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: ""They made $5 million and we just don't see it in lavish lifestyles or expensive toys," Mr. McNulty said, noting that task force investigators were concerned about a lack of tangible evidence to show how the credit card ring spent its illicit profits." ..."Mr. McNulty said the man suspected of being the ringleader, Shah Nawaz, fled to Pakistan with others named in the scheme. He said some of the ring's profits were transferred to banks in Pakistan and Canada, noting that investigators traced $100,000 to specific outlets in those two countries. He said the scheme operated mostly on the East Coast, from Virginia to New York, and primarily focused on credit card, Social Security and immigration fraud.") (January 30, 2003)
NATIONAL POST.com: "HAMILTON MAN ADMITS HE KNEW TERRORISTS" by Tom Blackwell (ARTICLE NOTE: The suspect is identified as Abdellah Ouzghar, age 38, a Moroccan-Canadian.) (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "An Ontario man convicted in France of belonging to an Islamic terror group said yesterday he made repeated social visits to the Montreal apartment where Ahmed Ressam and other Muslim extremists lived. Abdellah Ouzghar said he knew several Montreal residents who have since been found guilty of terrorist-related acts, including reputed ringleader Fateh Kamel. Ressam was found guilty of plotting to set off a huge bomb at the Los Angeles airport during millennium celebrations, and was arrested trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border in a car packed with explosives. "(011603)
NATIONAL POST.com ("A Part of Canada.com): "THE GOOD SON" by Isabel Vincent (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: "Omar Khadr: from Toronto's suburbs to bin Laden's army: 'Omar was always there for us,' says sister of teenager accused of killing U.S. soldier"..."Omar's father, Ahmed Khadr, is suspected of being one of Osama bin Laden's key lieutenants and a high-ranking member of the terrorist group Egyptian Islamic Jihad. He is hiding in rural Pakistan.") (122802)
CANADA.com - THE OTTAWA CITIZEN (THE MONTREAL GAZETTE): "CANADIAN ACTIVIST WON'T LEAVE WEST BANK" (ARTICLE NOTE: The "Canadian activist" is Jaggi Singh, age 29.) (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mr. Singh said he also intends to visit the Jenin refugee camp or other areas of "Palestinian resistance."") (122702)
NATIONAL POST.com - Series: "In Case of Emergency": "A NUCLEAR BOMB ENTERS THE PORT" by Richard Foot (ARTICLE SNPPET: "The threat of terrorist acts against North America has not diminished since it was made real on Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. authorities have warned al-Qaeda may be planning "spectacular attacks," and Osama bin Laden has threatened that Canada will pay for supporting the United States. How ready are we to respond to an act of terrorism on our soil? Today, in the conclusion of a series exploring the state of Canada's preparedness, the National Post examines the potential for mayhem should a nuclear bomb be smuggled into the Port of Halifax.") (010603)
***THE STAR.com - THE TORONTO STAR (CANADIAN PRESS): Ottawa. "CANADA ALLOWS IMPORT OF BOMB BOOK" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The federal government has approved the importation of a book that gives detailed instructions for making bombs and blowing up bridges, the Ottawa Citizen reported yesterday. Even the author of The Anarchist Cookbook has renounced it as "misguided and potentially dangerous." But the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency says there is nothing to prevent its sale in Canada because it violates neither the hate law nor obscenity law, the newspaper reported.") (121502)
***FBI.gov: SEEKING INFORMATION: "AMER EL-MAATI" akas "Amro Badr Eldin Abou El-Maati, Amro Badr Abouelmaati" (SEEKING INFORMATION POSTER SNIPPET: "Amer El-Maati is being sought in connection with possible terrorist threats in the United States."..."SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
" Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said today that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell made a convincing presentation to the UN Security Council suggesting that "Iraq seems to be trying to fool" UN teams searching Iraq for caches of forbidden weapons. But, Graham added, Canada will await the decision of the council later this month before deciding on a course of action."
I see this as a positive step. The problem's seriousness is recognized and allows the U.N. prove its relevance. I have little doubt that Canada will climb onboard regardless of the final U.N. action/non-action. But it's a pity the government doesn't take a more vocal hardline against Hussein now, the best chance for a peaceful solution is unity among many countries all applying real pressure on Hussein and his regime.
Hello? Who elected them?
Could it be...Satan?
Draft dodgers, drug addicts, and their resident frogs is my guess.
And you voted for Clinton. But I'll bet you deny it.
government is freakin out of it's mind and EVERYONE up here knows it. Attack our governemnt all you want, but don't go around thinking they represent us.
Does anyone think the U.S. government represents the American people? Less then half of those eligible to vote voted and only a quarter of those eligible to vote selected President Bush.
You are on crack. But I'll bet you deny it.
If we can forgive you for Clinton, despite his deficiences that threaten all of us today.....you can forgive us for our bumbling insignificant dishonorable PM.
Because some twit accused me of voting for Clinton?
No not that....only you know who you voted for. Ease up a bit on us here. Like I mentioned.....our PM is in office with less than 45% of the vote. Our PM isn't exactly gushing with popularity up here.
With rights come responsibilities. If someone's not going to vote, those of us who do get to make the decisions. By not bothering to show up, the nonvoters basically voted, "Whatever you guys want."
Good Points:
Still have plenty of Indians to abuse.
Proper Forms of Address:
Bud, mac, mister, hey you.
Some Examples of Canadian Repartee:
Two Canadians are talking in a bar. One Canadian says, "Who was that lady I saw you with last night?"
"That was my wife." replies the other.
A lady is shopping in a Toronto drugstore and accidentally leaves the bottle of aspirins that she bought on the counter. She gets on a bus and the minute the bus has pulled away from the curb remembers leaving her purchase behind. "My aspirins! My aspirins!" she yells.
And the bus driver says, "Maybe you left them in the drugstore."
You beat me to it. We Americans have a major glass-house issue with regard to elected leaders. We're in no position to be throwing stones at others.
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