UN plan to give Saddam 72 hours to leave Baghdad

Sunday Herald ^ | 3/8/03

[areafiftyone]

SADDAM Hussein and his family are to be given 72 hours on Tuesday to accept an offer of exile, while 50 of Iraq's top military brass will be offered an amnesty in return for full co-operation with the United Nations in a secret plan to be tabled at its New York headquarters. The highly sensitive proposal was tabled by Pakistan during a closed-door meeting of the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council on Friday and was brokered by Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and moderate Arab states. Failure by Saddam to agree to the plan would clear the way for war.

If the proposal, understood to be in the form of a short paragraph, becomes part of a second resolution and is adopted by the Security Council, the UN would oversee the establishment of a post-Saddam government and the UN, not the US, would take stewardship of Iraq's oilfields.

The Iraqi generals and top ranking officers would have to co-operate fully with UN inspectors to oversee the total elimination of any weapons of mass destruction.

Pope John Paul II has dispatched his emissaries to meet all the key parties during the past two weeks. His special envoy and per manent observer at the UN, Archbishop Renato Rafaele Martino, has been discussing the proposal with all the Security Council members.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Pio Laghi, a former Papal Nuncio, met with President George W Bush, while Cardinal Angelo Sodano has met with Tony Blair. Cardinal Roger Etchegaray met with Saddam in Baghdad and discussed the subject of exile, which he said Saddam did not rule out.

American sources have confirmed that the US and Jordan have recently discussed the prospect of using the UN to offer a formal exile and amnesty package to Saddam and his inner circle.

Last month, Saddam rejected informal pleas to choose exile over war. But the US is aware that one of the attractions of an amendment that extends the offer to his family and military leaders is the likelihood it may trigger a coup, leading to his assassination by a member of his inner circle.

It is thought that Saddam's sons, Uday and Qusay, would push for a safe passage out rather than face a cataclysmic end in a Baghdad bunker. 'Uday might be the first to shoot his father if he refused an amnesty,' one senior Jordan official is quoted as saying.

The proposed amendment is still at a low rung on the UN procedural ladder but the non-permanent members believe it represents a last best chance to avert a war. But, from the Security Council's point of view, it offers a compromise that would allow its members to unite and vote for a second resolution.

UN sources have also indicated that a second resolution on Tuesday with the March 17 ultimatum -- incorporating an offer of exile -- would provide an attractive compromise that would let the French to come on board without 'losing face' or appearing to have capitulated to the US.

[Theresa]

I can't see the Vatican going along with anything "that paves the way to war." The article says Saddam's failure to take the deal would pave the way to war.

I just don't think this information is reliable.

[Howlin]

This does not look like a family that is going to move into a cave.

[Bulldogs22]

"72 hours, 72 virgins. What to do, what to do?
signed,
saddam"


Very Good. LOL. I needed a laugh.

Thanks, Bulldogs

[#3Fan]

When does Kofi Anan's term expire? I thought it was 2006? That's two years before Hillary could (conceivably if Bush wins a second term) be elected.

If Bill Clinton wants it, and if the Clinton-worshipping nations of the world want him to have it, Kofi would be out on his butt. The likes of Bill Clinton and the leaderships of the other nations of the world have proven that rules and laws mean nothing to them.

[laz17]

But didn't Saddam tell Dan Blather he would die in Iraq? Surely he wouldn't lie to his buddy Dan.

[Grampa Dave]

I think that if our left wing politicians, mediots and of course the Iraqi whores in waiting, France, Germany, Russia, China and Belgium hadn't given cover to Saddam. He would probably have left by now.

Aziz, made a special trip to the Vatican in February, and I have been waiting for them to make a big push for Saddamn to leave.

He doesn't need 72 hours. The old Western American custom of "You have until sunset to get out of town!", works very well.

[Theresa]

"This does not look like a family that is going to move into a cave."

I think most of his family is already out of the country. I think he means it, up to a point, when he says he won't leave. He WANTS to direct the mayhem and bloodshed, he WANTS to use his WMD's. He loves the idea so much he would risk his life to use them. He does not want to miss out on it by going into exile. I think after he's had a little "fun" he will escape at the last minute. I think he has underground tunnels in his palaces and escape routes already planned and maybe even more that a few comfortable hide outs. His vision of himself as Saladin just does not lead me to believe that he would be able to live in passive exile. Most of the experts I have heard on FOX say he will go out in flames or try to escape but he will NEVER go into exile.

Think the Vatican knows this...that he won't go into exile and I don't think the Vatican is behind this proposal because it paves the way to war and they don't want war. I think the Vatican has NO idea what to do.

[bybybill]

How many times a week, on average, do you threaten to vote [throw away your vote] Libertarian because of something GWB hasn`t done yet? You need to read "Peter and the Wolf" soon.

[Terridan]

AND THIS IS WHY IT IS ALL CRAP, BUT WISHFUL THINKING BY THE UN JERKS..... Best wishes!!!

"If the proposal, understood to be in the form of a short paragraph, becomes part of a second resolution and is adopted by the Security Council, the UN would oversee the establishment of a post-Saddam government and the UN, not the US, would take stewardship of Iraq's oilfields."

[AFPhys]

Two days ago, just after President Bush's news conference, I stated to Miss Marple in the "...Snooze Alarm..." thread, and later in the "Iraq urges UN to resist War Resolution" thread, that President Bush's determination to force the Security Council to vote on this had the diplomatic airwaves buzzing attepting to figure out how to respond. They were certain that if the US and UK could not garner the votes, they would not table another resolution, but rather simply proceed as they saw fit. This article shows just how much they are buzzing and squirming. It is just not done ... forcing them to show their cards.

No matter what any of the naysayers may believe, this President is a True Leader. I am stunned at the depth of knowledge of human nature and politics he displays. I have the highest regard for his advisors, but their ability and advice is being shown to be incredible. I am continually amazed at how much in the dark so many of those who underestimate him are.

Let it not be misunderstood... I am not real excited about the prospect of Saadumb remaining in this world in exile. However, as Eva, Dog and others pointed out, this is an eminently reasonable proposal that includes "force" that many of the SC members will support, and France will be hard pressed to reject. (not that they won't)...

Way...'s comment about the UN just trying to control the oil fields is not far afield, but it is insufficient. The major problem they are having is not that, but the "becoming irrelevant" problem, and when even Kissinger is excoriating them, you know they see the problem... he is respected, and they certainly heard what he said yesterday.

Again, as Dog said, I believe there is almost zero chance... well, maybe as much as 10% chance, that Saadumb will accept this ultimatum. I am afraid he will, and do not want him to do so. FRgal's observation of our President's concern for our troops does temper that desire of mine, though, and there she also has that "middle six ... pawn brokers" statement which is a nice insight.

However, possibly the most important comment on this thread was made by frei_staat (108): "What gets my attention to this is that our military wouldn't get bogged down in the administration, care and feeding of Iraq. That, to me, is more of a concern than prosecuting the war. With US forces not pinned to Iraq, at least four divisions are free to point at the next event."

"Let them who have eyes, see."

[AFPhys]

I think that if our left wing politicians, mediots and of course the Iraqi whores in waiting, France, Germany, Russia, China and Belgium hadn't given cover to Saddam, he would probably have left by now.

This is proving to be one of my most effective statements in my discussions (or shouting matches) with the peaceniks.

[AFPhys]

I sure have to agree with you that Saadumb wants to go into war. I don't think he has sufficient escape routes established, though, especially if we are able to persuade a somewhat substantial number of his military officers to be against his regime in the end.

[Grampa Dave]

I know that you don't want him to run into exile, and I can understand that.

However, if he and his top 75 to 100 thugs leave Iraq, we will see a rapid regime change. President Bush has said all along this path that regime change is his goal for Iraq and the other Axis of evil countries.

Most of these thugs will have an accident leading to an early departure from earth regardless of what country they flee to. They will never be able to relax a moment if they leave Iraq.

Within weeks after Saddamn is gone or dead, we will see a massive regime change in Iran. When the Murdering Mullahs of Iran lose their heads, the Assad thugs in Syria will become dead men walking. The IDF will handle that situation overnight.

I want to see the money trails from Saddam to the left wingers here and around the world. If Saddam goes into exile, hopefully that data will become public. That could cause massive regime changes in France, Germany, Belgium and maybe even in Russia and China. We could see a lot of left wing Senators resigning in this country and a lot of so called non profits exposed as Islamofacist agents. Also, that would probably be the end of the UN!

[Eva]

My biggest concern with the proposal is that the UN will not insist on a secular government. An Islamic gov't will not be able to unify the different ethnic groups as well as a secular gov't would, and neither would it insure the end of the support of terrorism. This is not much different than the proposal that the Islamic states made a few weeks ago, which Saddam flatly turned down.

The best part of the proposal is that it sets a definite deadline.

[AFPhys]

If your nightmare is right, and some left wingers are tied to Saadumb cash, I'll be very surprised... but I wouldn't for a moment doubt that revelation.

[AFPhys]

My biggest concern with the proposal is that the UN will not insist on a secular government....

Yeah, I know... There are definitely pros and cons about this. Most of them have probably been hit on this thread. We're going to have to wait ten years, I'm afraid, to find out what was done right and wrong if this comes to pass.

[CarmelValleyite]

Right you are! We should be happy to get Saddam out whether it be via exile or our bombs dropped. Whatever, we will have rid the world of this scourage. We just can't keep delaying, of course. This latest demand from our side MUST be the last. He goes, or we go get him!

[CarmelValleyite]

The pope is practically gasping for his last breath -- Saddam will see the error of his violent ways and convert to Catholicism; take exile in Vatican City with his popeliness and then, seen as a hero for leaving Iraq, will take over as new pope when the old pope, ahem, kicks the bucket.

IMHO, all the events of the past few months are no less ridiculous than the above scenario... I've given up trying to follow the UN/France/Germany ad nauseum shenanigans and will amuse myself with my own plot twists from now on.

[TheLurkerX]

Who the hell are you talking about? I haven't threatened to vote Libertarian since I quit voting for them during the first Clinton election and voted Republican. This is the first time in years I've even mentioned it, and only now because of the wait and all the dragged out UN B.S.

We shouldn't be going through the UN anyway, but as long as Dubya doesn't blink and turn the whole thing over to them, he's got my vote again next election. It's about time someone faced down the UN and restored some cajones to our foreign policy.

Next time, make sure you know who you're posting to.

[John Lenin]

Saddam spends his last moments with friend.