All Arabs oppose strike on Iraq

Bahrain Tribute ^ | 21 january 2002 | AFP

[knighthawk]

BAGHDAD: Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mussa said in Baghdad yesterday that all Arab countries would oppose an eventual US military strike on Iraq.

“There is an Arab consensus on opposing any strike against any Arab country,” Mussa told reporters after arriving here on the first official visit to Iraq by a head of the pan-Arab body since 1990.

“The Arab League, the Arab Ministerial Council and the Arab summit, all were very clear in (upholding) the security, safety and territorial integrity of all Arab countries, including Iraq,” he said at the airport when asked about the possibility of a US military offensive against Iraq.

Mussa said he would discuss various aspects of the situation in Iraq with officials here, including President Saddam Hussein, during his 24-hour visit.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri was on hand at the airport to greet Mussa, who arrived to sanctions-hit Iraq on a special flight authorised by the UN.

“Iraq opens its arms to its Arab brethren, chief among them the man who leads the mechanism of joint Arab action,” Sabri said in a reference to the Arab League chief.

Mussa’s visit comes ahead of an Arab summit due March in Beirut. “I am visiting Iraq at a critical time for the Arab world and the Middle East region,” Mussa said.

“The talks I will hold here are important in the context of reviving Arab solidarity,” he added.

[knighthawk]

Well, next time Saddam decides to invade some Arab countries, don't come asking America to free your sorry @sses

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Will Stand]

Lots of Saddam-oppressed citizens of Iraq support U.S. intervention.

[Mixer]

Yeah but the USA on Septembet 11th was atacked NOT any of the Arab counries that are opposing strikes.

[Mixer]

counries=countries

[Mixer]

Bump!

[Buckeroo]

Actually, Saddam only wanted his property back. Kuwait was slant drilling while denying property rights about Iraq. But you argue from the perspective of believing in government agenda.

Now, America has distributed military all around the world............. and you say this is good?

[alloysteel]

Why, of course the other Arab countries oppose a strike on Saddam Hussein, not because it would succeed, but because they have no confidence that the strike will be quick enough to completely excise the Saddam Hussein regime. They are at their most vulnerable when Saddam is under fire, and the return fire will not be directed at the US forces, but at the Muslim neighbors, or worse yet, at Israel, and they would join in the fray. The other Arab states are scared sh¡tless of Saddam, and while they would like him gone, they are probably hoping he will die of whatever causes, and his successor will be more tractable.

[thucydides]

To the extent the other arab states think they have a principled position against any attack on Iraq, it is simply another instance of their tribalism and indifference to savagery. But more likely, it is as you say. They are against it until he is really gone, then they were for it all along (even though it would be an uncomfortable reminder of how illegitimate their own regimes are, and how easy it would be to topple them).

[duckman]

Let me begin by saying I am not a racist or bigot. I hope I don't get flamed for what I am about to say. After the last several months I find I cannot trust ANY arab. Their beliefs are strong and religious. I put them in two catagories. Those that would like to kill all westerners and those that have taken training to actually kills us. I believe their religions convictions are so strong they truly believe that if you do not believe in Allah you are an infidel that deserves to die. There I said it. I feel a lot better.

[knighthawk]

But you argue from the perspective of believing in government agenda

My government is not located in Baghdad.

[knighthawk]

No flaming from me, just agreement.

[null and void]

They write themselves.

I think the Arabs are just going to have to not like what we must do...

[Buckeroo]

It might as well be.

[knighthawk]

Do you really think I would wanted to live in a country like Iraq? Or any Arab country for that matter.

[Buckeroo]

I want you to imagine the potential concept about the separation of government from the people. Is this possible?

[knighthawk]

In a democracy the people elect the government, so people cannot be seperated from the government.

Only in a dictatorship the people are seperated from the government.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

No problem, I'm glad they came out and said this. We're finding out who our friends are. We'll wipe Iraq, Iran, and Syria off the maps. Then, the next time that some foreign tyrant invades an arab nation, we'll sit back and watch the carnage. Fine by me.

[Buckeroo]

What makes you think America is a "democracy?" Even China says similar things about "their" government.

[knighthawk]

Well, the US government fits the way the acient Greeks had in mind with a democracy. That not everything is completely free or that the government imposes some rules some people do not like does not mean the US can be compared to countries like China.