Iraq demands lifting of sanctions after Blix report

Reuters | 3/08/03

[kattracks]

BAGHDAD, March 8 (Reuters) - President Saddam Hussein called on the U.N. Security Council on Saturday to lift 12 years of sanctions against Iraq, declaring Baghdad had met its disarmament commitments.

In a statement after a meeting chaired by Saddam, the Iraqi leadership made a set of demands it said the Security Council should implement after the reports by chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei on Friday.

"The embargo against Iraq should be lifted totally and comprehensively after America's motives were revealed to the world and after Iraq abided by Security Council resolutions," the statement said.

It also demanded that the Security Council denounce the United States and Britain as "liars", strip Israel of its alleged weapons of mass destruction and force it to pull out of "Palestine and occupied Arab land".

Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix told the U.N. Security Council on Friday Iraq's cooperation fell short of Council demands but applauded Baghdad's scrapping of al-Samoud missiles.

[TheConservator]

No problem. The US will be happy to support lifting the sanctions in a couple of weeks. . . .

[twigs]

The man has huttzbah (sp?). Reminds me a LOT of clinton.

[ClancyJ]

If you are in bed with terrorists and dictators, you live by the demands of terrorists and dictators. The demise of the U.N.

[Delmarksman]

I see that Saddamy got his fresh supply of LSD.
'Cause he's trippin real good.

[xzins]

Has Iraq just declared themselves in compliance with 1441?

That guarantees a return to the hyper-reluctant policy regarding destruction of WMD's, I would think. Those El Samoud missiles were the tip of an iceberg. Apparently, this is an announcement that there will never be a willing revelation of the extent of the iceberg.

Is this new to us? Of course not. However, perhaps there's the possibility that other nations believed Iraq was complying. That's highly doubtful -- Iraq's old european allies were probably just lying to others. But, just in case there were any who "believed" Iraq was cooperating, this announcement should be cold water in the face. Saddam has just announced himself in compliance.

And we've yet to see the first liter of anthrax.

[TheConservator]

chutzpah

[commish]

declaring Baghdad had met its disarmament commitments.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!

Oh god, I needed a good laugh this morning.

[Textide]

It'll be interesting to see how/if the UN responds to this.

If they don't respond or reject the request, they've effectively admitted that Iraq is not yet in full compliance. If they accept it, I would think that more countries would be with us on the sand.

[The Toad]

I'm sure the French would agree with Iraq on this.....

[steveegg]

Has Iraq just declared themselves in compliance with 1441?

They're only 4,238 days late and 100 Al-Samoud missiles, a few tons of anthrax, some uranium, etc., etc. short.

[Fractal Trader]

Where's the BARF Alert for this one? Oh, I forgot, Iraq is being serious. I'm sure that Hans will be devoting a lot of time to this one.

[paolop]

France will probably present the formal motion to the UN...

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Great point...lack of response from the UN or rejection of Saddam's claim surely would mean that the UN knows Saddam is lying.

Time to tell the UN to buzz off...let the rockets red glare

[thepitts]

The Onion right....

[steveegg]

The Onion right....

The next best thing for printed laughs, Reuters.

[We Happy Few]

Agreed. What difference does it make what the next U.N. resolution says? Saddam has already given his answer. I suggest we tee off at 5 p.m. EDT today.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

You say Hanukkah, I say Chanukah...

[Aeronaut]

BAGHDAD, March 8 (Reuters) - President Saddam Hussein called on the U.N. Security Council on Saturday to lift 12 years of sanctions against Iraq, declaring Baghdad had met its disarmament commitments. In a statement after a meeting chaired by Saddam, the Iraqi leadership made a set of demands it said the Security Council should implement after the reports by chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei on Friday. "The embargo against Iraq should be lifted totally and comprehensively after America's motives were revealed to the world and after Iraq abided by Security Council resolutions," the statement said. It also demanded that the Security Council denounce the United States and Britain as "liars", strip Israel of its alleged weapons of mass destruction and force it to pull out of "Palestine and occupied Arab land". Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix told the U.N. Security Council on Friday Iraq's cooperation fell short of Council demands but applauded Baghdad's scrapping of al-Samoud missiles.

These yahoos are too much!

[Aeronaut]

Sorry folks, I screwed up the paragraph formatting.