Iraq "Accepts" UN Resolution: Really?
efreedomnews
Jonathan Rhodes
November 18, 2002
Despite the liberal press' accolades for Saddam the innocent peacemaker, the Iraqi letter to UN General Secretary Kofi Anan delivered November 13, merely met the November 15 deadline and mostly set the groundwork for later arguments against the validity of the inspectors.
Here are some choice excerpts from the letter delivered by Iraqi UN Ambassador Muhammad al-Douri: (underscores by efn)
We hereby inform you that we will deal with resolution 1441, despite its bad contents, if it is to be implemented according to the premeditated evil of the parties of ill-intent, the important thing in this is trying to spare our people from harm. But we will not forget, nor should others do, that safeguarding our people's dignity, security, independence, and protecting our country, its sovereignty and sublime values, is as sacred a duty in our leadership's and government's agenda. Therefore, and as we said in the foresaid agreement and press statement, we are prepared to receive the inspectors, so that they can carry out their duties, and make sure that Iraq has not developed weapons of mass destruction during their absence since 1998.
Dealing with the inspectors, the government of Iraq will also take into consideration their way of conduct, the intentions of those who are ill-intentioned among them and their improper approach in showing respect to the people's national dignity, their independence and security, and their country's security, independence and sovereignty. We are eager to see them perform their duties in accordance with the international law as soon as possible. If they do so, professionally, and lawfully, without any premeditated intentions, the liar's lies will be exposed to public opinion and the declared objective of the Security Council will be achieved. It will then become the lawful duty of the Security Council to lift the blockade and all the other unjust sanctions on Iraq.
Send your inspectors to Iraq to make sure of this and everyone will be sure, if their way of conduct is supervised so that it becomes legal and professional, that Iraq has not developed weapons of mass destruction, whether nuclear, chemical or biological, as claimed by evil people. The lies and manipulations of the American administration and British government will be exposed, while the world will see how truthful and adequate the Iraqis are in what they say and do.
But if the whims of the American administration, the Zionist desires, their followers, intelligence services, threats and foul temptation were given the chance to play and tamper with the inspection teams or some of their members, the colors would be then confused and the resulting commotion will distort the facts and push the situation into dangerous directions, which is something fair-minded people do not wish for ... ."“The timetable does not take Ramadan and our festivals into account”
“We have no weapons of mass destruction, whether nuclear, chemical or biological as claimed by evil people”
(W)e hope that you will, Mr. Secretary-General, advise the ignorants not to push things to the precipice, in the implementation, because the people of Iraq will not choose to live at the price of their dignity, country, freedom or sanctities, and they would rather make their lives the price if that was the only way before them to safeguard what they must safeguard.
President Bush's Response:
"There's no negotiations with Mr. Saddam Hussein," Bush said. "Those days are long gone. And so are the days of deceit and denial. And now it's up to him. And I want to remind you all that inspectors are there to determine whether or not Saddam Hussein is willing to disarm. It's his choice to make. And should he choose not to disarm, we will disarm him."
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, traveling to Chile to participate in the Defense Ministerial of the Americas, talked to reporters about U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441. Regarding the "material breech" the secretary said that decision is up to the Security Council and U.N. member states. As Iraqi air defenses have continued attacks on U.S. and coalition aircraft since Hussein accepted the resolution, the secretary commented,
"I have always found it unacceptable for any country to shoot at our aircraft with impunity," Rumsfeld said. "The resolution addresses the subject (of Iraqi fire on coalition aircraft), and it's up to the Security Council and the member states to make conclusions as to what is or is not a material breach."
The secretary remarked that he believes the United Nations would be looking for a pattern of behavior to determine material breaches of the U.N. resolution. Repeated firing at coalition planes would certainly be considered. [AFIS]
On December 8, 2002, Iraq is supposed to produce a "currently accurate, full, and complete declaration" of any weapons of mass destruction program. The US has its own list, with satellite photos, ready for December 8. On that day, Iraq will again be in "material breech" of UN Resolution 1441, and the US will be called upon to enforce the UN mandate.
Tuwaitha Nuclear Center, Iraq