Saddam: I won't destroy missiles

Guardian ^ | 2/25/03 | Gary Younge in New York

[kattracks]

Saddam Hussein last night defied the US chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, when he refused to destroy his Samoud 2 missiles and called instead on US president George Bush to join him in a televised debate.

In an exclusive interview with the CBS news anchor, Dan Rather, to be screened in the US tomorrow night, the Iraqi leader denied that the Samouds violated UN mandates and said he would not destroy them.

No transcripts of the first interview that President Saddam has conducted with a foreign journalist for 12 years were available last night. But Mr Rather said: "Saddam indicated he does not intend to destroy the missiles or pledge to destroy them as demanded by Blix."

President Saddam's challenge to a live, televised debate on the crisis with Mr Bush was dismissed out of hand by the White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer.

"This is not a serious issue. There is no debating his need to disarm," he said.

The order to destroy the Samoud missiles is emerging as a test of how serious the Iraqi regime is about disarmament. The order was issued after experts decided that the missile flew farther than the 150km (93 mile) limit set down by the UN in 1991

[Octar]

I like Ari Fleischer. Compare him to DeDe (Bovine) Meyers.

[syriacus]

 Saddam Hussein last night defied the US chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, when he refused to destroy his Samoud 2 missiles and called instead on US president George Bush to join him in a televised debate.

Saddam's way of thinking sounds more and more like that of Senator Chuck Schmearer (D-NY).

• "I have a law degree, but I won't bother using it. I'll go into politics, instead."
• "If only you would do this (idiotic thing), I will go along with your request."
• "Let's discuss this a little more."
• "My team may have lost the war/election to Bush's team, but I will obstruct almost every legitimate action taken by the winning team."
• "Why bother with telling the truth, when a lie will serve your ends?"
• "I think the government should take guns away from people who hold opinions different than mine."

[syriacus]

I forgot to mention.

• Both Schmearer and Saddam like starting wars.

Democrats Will Try to Filibuster Judicial Nominees

When President Bush took office, Senate Democrats started a campaign to block his judicial appointments. They hoped it would help them keep Senate control and win the next fight over a Supreme Court vacancy.

The campaign started with an unprecedented 42 votes against John Ashcroft’s nomination as attorney general. That vote, as Sen. Charles Schumer (D.-N.Y.) put it, was designed to send a "shot across the bow" on future judicial appointments, since 41 votes will sustain a nominee filibuster.

[carton253]

Not unless he wants war... and he does.

[Poohbah]

Suit yourself, Saddam ol' buddy.

If you won't destroy the missiles, we'll take care of 'em for you.

[dennisw]

yes he will....

and all the world will oooohhh and aaaahhhh "see sadaam has seen the light, but the evil bush and blair monsters STILl are not satisfied..."

Of course that's what's going to happen. The give away is that as part of the charade, China, Russia and France have told him to destroy them. He'll destroy them at a snail's pace.

[alrea]

Betcha that Saddam will say that he will destroy the missiles, if he didn't even Jimmy Carter would have to say "Go git 'em".

SH may be ready to fight it out; only if he has a good idea that he'll be able to inflict monumental damage on invaders.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Bill Davis FR]

if saddam insane won't destroy them then bush and blair will...

[Bonaparte]

"testosterone... don't leave home without it."

LOL! Words to live (and die) by, RP2.