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. . . Day by Day with VOA .. Ex-UN Weapons Inspector Criticizes US Policy on Iraq . Michael Drudge London 16 Sep 2002 12:51 UTC   .  Listen
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report - Download 286k (RealAudio) . Former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter has accused the United States of pressuring the world to go along with plans for a war on Iraq. Mr. Ritter has become an outspoken critic of U.S. policy toward Iraq.
Earlier, the 40-year-old Mr. Ritter had served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps during the 1991 Gulf War, when a U.S.-led international coalition expelled Iraq from Kuwait. But Mr. Ritter has emerged as one of the most vocal and high-profile critics of American policy toward Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. In a British radio interview, Mr. Ritter said he believes a full-scale U.S. attack on Iraq is inevitable. "We are closer to war than ever," he said. "It is not a question of when America will go to war with Iraq. We are already at war with Iraq. It is just a question of when this war will enter a phase of ... large-scale conventional conflict." Mr. Ritter scoffed at American diplomatic efforts against Iraq at the United Nations. The United States is, in Mr. Ritter's words, "putting an extreme amount of pressure on the international community to bend to America's will." Mr. Ritter also said it is wrong to speculate about the state of Iraq's weapons program without the benefit of renewed inspections. "It is all dependent upon what Iraq has or has not done in the last four years, which I have been very honest in saying, we do not have a clue about," he said. "So let us get the inspectors in and not speculate about what is going to happen. Let us get them in and let them do their job." In return for a cease-fire in the Gulf War, Iraq agreed to international inspection of its weapons programs. In another development, the British newspaper The Times quotes a dissident Iraqi scientist who says Iraq could build three nuclear bombs by the end of the year. The scientist, Khidir Hamza, claims Iraq could do this with stolen German equipment and uranium smuggled from Brazil. Mr. Hamza defected in 1994, and the article offers no explanation of how he got his information.
. Anti-Landmine Group Worries About Possible Use in Iraq . . . It has been five years since a global treaty to ban land mines was established. This week in Geneva, officials from many countries, as well as from groups opposed to land mines, are meeting to assess what effect the treaty has had on the effort to rid the world of landmines. The United Nations calls the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty the most successful arms control mechanism in the world. Since its passage, 126 countries have made the treaty part of their national legislation, the latest being Afghanistan, and 18 others say they plan to. Fifty countries have not signed the treaty. But while U.N. officials speak highly of the treaty, they also acknowledge that much remains to be done. That feeling is shared by Jody Williams, head of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a coalition of more than 1,000 non-governmental organizations. Ms. Williams and her organization were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Speaking in Geneva Monday, she said her group is as busy as it ever was. "We continue to work in open partnership to resolve both interpretation questions of the treaty, to make sure that the mines are out of the ground and to make sure that the victim's needs are met, so that we strengthen this vision of a world in which the doctrine, which underlies global security, is human security and not a radically new military doctrine," said Ms. Willaims. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines has warned against the use of landmines in a possible attack against Iraq. A spokesman for the group, Stephen Goose, says there are already too many land mines in Iraq and says those opposed to Saddam Hussein should not consider laying any more. "Our view is it is conceivable that they would be useful to the U.S. military," he said. "But are they essential to victory? No. Will the longer-term humanitarian problem that they cause exceed any benefit? We think that the answer to that is definitely yes and that is why we say they should not be used." Mr. Goose says the United States, which has not signed the mine ban treaty, has more than 11 million landmines stockpiled. He adds that although the United States is the largest contributor to mine action programs, it still has reserved the right to use and produce mines.
First Round of Voting Peaceful in Kashmir Elections . Anjana Pasricha New Delhi 16 Sep 2002 16:36 UTC . Listen
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report - Download 318k (RealAudio) . The first round of voting in Indian-administered Kashmir has ended with authorities reporting a 44 percent turnout in state assembly elections. Islamic militants had threatened to disrupt the poll, but the voting was relatively peaceful
India's Deputy Election Commissioner, Sayan Chaterjee, said the polls were satisfactory, although the pattern of voting varied widely. "In Baramullah [district] there is one constituency called Hurez where the percentage went up as high as 65 percent, there is another constituency called Sopore where the percent is very low, it will be anything between three to five percent only," he said. Some voters said they felt caught between militants who have threatened to kill anyone participating in the polls, and pressure from Indian officials if they did not vote.
"There have been several incidents during the course of the polling today, but the poll has taken place in all the polling stations," he said. Poll workers wore bullet-proof vests at some voting centers. Soldiers stood guard on rooftops around the heavily guarded polling stations. People had to pass metal detectors before they could vote.
Some villagers and separatist leaders claimed many people were forced to vote by security forces, Indian officials denied it, saying there was no intimidation of voters. Pakistan reiterated accusations that the Kashmir elections are a "sham" and said the people of the troubled region did not want them. The elections in Kashmir will conclude October 8, after three more rounds of voting.
. Indian Forces Kill 17 Militants in Kashmir as Elections Begin . . Indian officials say security forces have killed 17 Islamic militants who were trying to cross into Indian-administered Kashmir, apparently to disrupt Monday's legislative elections. Officials say the first of at least two clashes in the Himalayan region broke out late Sunday along the line of control separating the Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of Kashmir. Islamic separatists had called for a boycott of the election, and militants threatened to attack anyone taking part. Despite threats of election-related violence, Indian officials say they are "satisfied" with voter turnout Monday. Officials say 44 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots on the first of four days of staggered voting for the state assembly elections. Balloting will end on October 8. Heavy security was in place in Kashmir. Some clashes took place at heavily-guarded polling stations, but there were few reports of serious violence. A separatist group held an anti-election demonstration in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state. An election day strike called by separatists closed many shops and businesses in the city, and disrupted life in other parts of Kashmir. More than 300 people, including a state minister and two dozen political activists, have been killed since elections were announced last month. India accuses Pakistan of supporting separatists who have crossed into Indian-administered Kashmir to sabotage the elections - a charge Pakistan denies. Islamic militant groups have been fighting for the end of Indian control in Kashmir since 1989. Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
. Japan PM Set for Talks in N. Korea . . . Japan's prime minister arrives in North Korea Tuesday for an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Junichiro Koizumi wants to work toward resolving a series of thorny issues that keep the two countries from opening diplomatic ties.
Japan's brutal colonization of the Korean Peninsula ended nearly 60 years ago, but the two Northeast Asian neighbors have yet to normalize relations.
Shigeru Yokota's daughter Megumi is among those thought to have been kidnapped. She disappeared 25 years ago. "I wish that Mr. Koizumi could bring back the abductees with him but that is unlikely," she said. "But at least, I hope to learn more about their safety. I want concrete progress, such as a date when we can see them or when they will return to Japan. Otherwise the upcoming meeting will not be successful and the wishes of the [Japanese] public will be betrayed." Other unresolved issues could come into play at the Koizumi-Kim summit. They include Pyongyang's test firing of a missile in 1998 that flew over Japanese territory. Tokyo also may want to discuss intrusions by suspected North Korean spy ships into Japanese territory. Recent intrusions have raised tensions between the two countries. Last week, the Japanese coast guard raised a suspected North Korean spy vessel that sank in the East China Sea last December after a firefight with Japanese patrol ships. For its part, North Korea demands compensation for Japan's colonial rule that lasted from 1910-1945. Japanese media reports say the two nations have reached a basic agreement on an economic package. It will reportedly be finalized after normalization talks resume. The Japanese foreign ministry has not confirmed the reports. The summit comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-il tries to improve his impoverished country's image. In July, Pyongyang unexpectedly expressed regret for a naval clash that killed five South Korean sailors. It has since held a series of meetings with South Korea on projects such as re-linking a cross-border railway. The two nations last week also held a fifth reunion of families divided by the Korean War, which ended in 1953 with no peace treaty. In addition, North Korea has signaled that it wants to resume a long-stalled dialogue with Washington. In January, President Bush grouped North Korean with Iran and Iraq as part of an axis of evil nations, developing or possessing weapons of mass destruction. Masao Okonogi is a North Korean specialist with Keio University. "I think the upcoming meeting will be successful because the stance of Kim Jong-il is very weak," he sadi. "That means that the United States and Japan have a strong position. It would be damaging for Mr. Koizumi to come back with nothing, but if the meeting fails, it would be worse for Mr. Kim. If that occurs, Japan and [its key ally] the United States will recognize that there is no chance of normalizing ties with North Korea." A survey by Japan's Asahi newspaper shows that 53 percent of the public expects ties with North Korea to improve after the summit, while 46 percent say their expectations are low. Analysts such as Mr. Okonogi say there is no guarantee that Mr. Koizumi will succeed in winning over Kim Jong-il. One newspaper editorial notes that if the visit ends with no concrete progress, it could disappoint that public and deal a harsh blow to the Japanese leadership.
. Opposition Parties Headed for Macedonia Victory . . . Preliminary election results in Macedonia show opposition parties scoring a major victory in the southern Balkan country. A change of government appears assured even though official results won't be known until late Monday. As Sunday night turned into Monday morning there were noisy celebrations at the headquarters of the parties headed towards electoral victory. In Tetovo in the ethnic Albanian populated northwest, former guerrillas fired shots into the air as thousands of wellwishers gathered at the headquarters of the Democratic Union for Integration, the party of former insurgent leader Ali Ahmeti. The DUI was out-polling its Albanian rival, the Democratic Party of Albanians, by a three to one margin. The head of the Democratic party conceded defeat and promised to work with Mr. Ahmeti. Here in Skopje the party led by the Social Democratic Union is well ahead of its main Macedonian rival, the ruling VMRO of Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski. The head of Macedonia's electoral commission says the voting was free and fair and largely without significant problems. That preliminary assessment is shared by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which deployed over 800 election monitors to Macedonia. At least 70 percent of those eligible actually voted in this, the first parliamentary election since the guerrilla insurgency brought Macedonia to the brink of civil war last year. Analysts say voters turned against the parties in power, blaming them for rampant corruption and a weak economy that has kept wages low and unemployment in excess of 25 per cent. Once the official results are announced there will be a period of intense bargaining leading to the formation of a new government. The new parliament must meet within 20 days. Former guerrilla leader Ahmeti is in a strong position and his support could be decisive in shaping the new government. Many ethnic Macedonians regard Mr. Ahmeti as a terrorist and the current government has threatened to arrest him. The possibility exists that his Integration party could become a partner in a government led by the Social Democrats.
. Rat Poison Blamed in Chinese Snack Shop Deaths . . . Chinese officials suspect rat poison is to blame for a mass food poisoning that has apparently killed dozens of people in eastern China. Many of the victims were middle school students. The official China Daily newspaper says rat poison that found its way into snack foods is the most likely cause of the deaths and illnesses. It quotes Zhou Qiang, a Jiangsu provincial government spokesman, as saying the poison may have been deliberately put into food served at a snack shop that delivers breakfast to several schools on the outskirts of Nanjing. The authorities refuse to release a death toll in the poisonings, which took place Saturday. But China Daily says dozens of people may have been killed and more than 200 have fallen ill. Children were among the victims. One grief-stricken mother told Hong Kong Cable Television that her 17-year-old son, who died in the incident, was an only child. He was always well-behaved, she says, and he wanted to go to university. And a school boy told Hong Kong reporters from his hospital bed that he was poisoned after eating a fried dough stick and rice. He says all 30 of his classmates also became ill after eating food from the snack shop. Reports said the victims were mostly students from four middle schools located near the snack shop, as well as migrant construction workers. Hong Kong media have reported that the students went into shock after taking only a couple of bites of food, began spitting out mucus and blood, and then fell unconscious. Witnesses were quoted as saying that hundreds of victims were rushed to the hospital. Police have reportedly detained the owner of the snack shop, which sold sesame cakes and fried dough sticks. Communist Party headquarters in Beijing sent investigators and ordered local officials to do everything possible to save those who were hurt by the poison - an indication of how seriously the central government views the matter. But one man, who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity, said that late on Saturday, China's propaganda department ordered all Chinese websites to stop releasing news about the poisoning. China routinely suppresses information about events that may embarrass the country. Security across the country has been tightened ahead of the Communist Party congress in November, at which senior leaders are expected to retire. Guidelines have been issued to the Chinese news media to protect the Party's image.
. Saudis Hint Support for US Attack on Iraq if UN Approves . . .
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, wants to know why Iraq will not agree to the return of U.N. weapons inspectors, since it says it does not possess any weapons of mass destruction, and has no plans to produce any. The foreign minister said allowing the return of inspectors would be wise, and would spare the Iraqi people. If the inspectors are not allowed to return, "We fear that the suffering of the Iraqi people will worsen, and we will be worried about the unity, independence and stability of Iraq," said Prince Saud. Saudi Arabia and 21 other members of the Arab League recently voted not to support any military action against Iraq, including providing logistical support or intelligence information. However on Sunday, Prince Saud said Saudi Arabia would cooperate in a U.S.-led attack, if the United Nations Security Council gave its approval. "If the United Nations takes a decision, by the Security Council, to implement a policy of the U.N., every country that has signed the charter of the U.N. has to fulfill it," the Saudi foreign minister emphasized. He went on to say a decision by the Security Council is binding on every member country. Iraq wants to make the return of U.N. inspections conditional on the lifting of U.N. sanctions imposed on it when it invaded Kuwait in 1990. The inspectors left Baghdad in 1998 on the eve of American and British air strikes against Iraq and have been barred from returning.
. Sixth American Charged in Suspected Buffalo Terror Cell . . A sixth American man has been charged with being a member of a suspected terrorist cell based in the Buffalo, New York, area. The charges were brought against Mokhtar al-Bakri during a court appearance Monday in Buffalo. The suspect was arrested last week in Bahrain, where he was attending his own wedding, before being flown to the United States to face charges. Five of his alleged associates were charged Saturday in Buffalo with providing material support and resources for al-Qaida terrorists. The six are now in U.S. federal custody in a detention center near Buffalo. All have been identified as U.S. citizens of Yemeni descent. Their next court appearance will be Wednesday. Officials say they were under investigation before last year's terrorist attacks in the United States. An FBI agent says they trained at an al-Qaida terror training camp near Kandahar, Afghanistan, before the attacks. Officials also say there are at least two unnamed conspirators in the alleged Buffalo cell yet to be caught. They are believed to be outside the United States. Meanwhile, New York Governor George Pataki said a 24-hour statewide terror tip hotline will begin operating later this week. He made the announcement Monday from Lackawanna, New York, where the six suspects were residents. Some information for this report provided by Reuters.
. Sri Lanka Peace Talks Open with Positive Statements . . .
The Sri Lankan government and the separatist rebels, the Tamil Tigers, said they would use the three days of talks to find a way to end two decades of civil war, which has devastated the country and left more than 60,000 people dead. Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, the chief government negotiator, said during opening ceremonies that his government wanted a negotiated settlement of the deadly conflict. He said the Sri Lankan people were weary of war and wanted only peace. The rebel negotiator, Anton Balasingham, said the Tigers would stop waging war in their bid for an independent state for the Tamils, who form a large ethnic minority in the country. He said he is hoping to turn the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from a rebel group into a mainstream political force. Although several other negotiation attempts have failed, the new government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has made peace a priority. Sri Lanka's economy is in ruins, and the country can no longer afford to spend a billion dollars a year on the war effort. The rebels, too, are facing financial and political difficulties. An international ban on contacts with the group, which Washington labeled a terrorist organization in 1997, has hampered international fund-raising activities. The United States has warned the Tigers that if the truce fails, the international war on terror could be extended to include them. The Sri Lankan government has ruled out an independent state for the Tigers, but has said it is willing to negotiate for wide-ranging autonomy in the northeast, where many of the ethnic Tamils live. The LTTE has been fighting the government since 1983, claiming Tamils are discriminated against by the ethnic majority Sinhalese. A Norwegian brokered cease-fire has been in effect since February. The rebel negotiator, Mr. Balasingham, said the truce is holding, and life is beginning to return to normal in the war-torn northern and eastern parts of the country. Norwegian negotiators are attending the talks, which are being held at a secluded naval base southeast of Bangkok. The peace talks are expected to set the agenda for further peace negotiations, which are scheduled to take place twice monthly. Although officials are optimistic, they warn that it could be months or even years before a final settlement is reached.
. Sweden's Social Democrats Win Third Term . . .
The value of the crown jumped more than one percent Monday, and Swedish bonds were also stronger as it became likely that a referendum on joining the Euro zone would be held as soon as early next year. Opinion surveys indicate about half of Swedes favor adopting the common currency. With Swedish voters apparently giving the Social Democrats enough support for a third term in office, it appears certain that Prime Minister Goran Persson, the politician most respected by financial markets, will lead the pro-euro forces into the referendum. Sweden is a member of the European Union but, like Britain and Denmark, has until now opted to remain outside the euro zone. The Social Democrats took 40 percent of Sunday's vote, four percent more than they received in the last election four years ago. The party has been in power since 1994, and has ruled Sweden for all but nine of the past 70 years. Together with the Left and the Greens, they look set to control 191 seats in the 349-seat Swedish parliament.
But while Sweden's Social Democrats did well, the big surprise was the showing of the Liberal Party, which nearly tripled its support of four years ago, surging past two other parties to become the third largest faction in parliament. The Liberals built their campaign around proposals to tighten immigration rules, including a requirement that immigrants pass a Swedish language test before being granted citizenship. Nearly 7.5 percent of Sweden's population is composed of immigrants from outside the European Union. But most analysts say the election results will have little or no impact on Sweden's relatively tolerant immigration policies.
. US Takes Custody of Pakistan al-Qaida Suspects . . The United States has taken custody of recently captured al-Qaida suspects in Pakistan, including an alleged planner of the September 11 attacks. U.S. officials say the suspects have been flown out of Pakistan to an unnamed location, but not to the United States. The key suspect is Yemeni national Ramzi Binalshibh, who is believed to have been involved in the cell in Hamburg, Germany, that allegedly led planning for last year's terrorist attacks on the United States. Germany, which initially sought his extradition, now says it will let the United States handle the case. The five were among the 10 suspects captured in raids last week in Pakistan. The arrests followed an interview aired last week on Qatar-based al-Jazeera television in which Mr. Binalshibh boasted about his role in planning the September 11 attacks. The journalist who conducted the interview in June, Yosri Fouda, now says he is afraid of al-Qaida retribution. He says he is being called a traitor and that he is too fearful to return to Pakistan. Some information for this report provided by Reuters.
. White House Links Iraq to Terrorism . . .
They are focusing on Iraq's defiance of existing U.N. resolutions and the threat Baghdad poses to the United States and the world. Picking up on the themes of President Bush's address Thursday to the United Nations, White House National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell made the case for action during appearances Sunday on five American television networks. During an interview with the Fox News Network, Ms. Rice was asked about reports Britain is about to release information drawing a close link between Iraq and al-Qaida. She told the Fox News Sunday, program she believes there have been contacts, though she stressed there is currently no evidence linking Baghdad to the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. "This is a regime that has hostile intent toward the United States, that has all kinds of people in Baghdad who are involved in terrorism, such as Abu Nidal who also has had links with al-Qaida," she said. Secretary Powell echoed her comments, but stressed that the main reason for U.S. concern is Iraq's intention to acquire and develop weapons of mass destruction. Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press he said his initial contacts with other members of the U.N. Security Council about possible action were constructive and predicted formal deliberations will begin soon. "We want to give them time to go back to their capitals, consider what the president said and come back with instructions this week so we can actually begin work on resolutions, I hope, no later than the end of the coming week," Secretary Powell spoke of the complexities of drafting U.N. resolutions, but predicted the matter would not drag on and a vote would be held in a few weeks. "I think it is a matter of weeks and not months," he said. "Otherwise we will just be dribbling this along. So it is a matter of weeks. Now, I do not want to be more precise than that because drafting U.N. resolutions is not one of the easiest things in the world to do and then get the necessary votes for it." He said the initial reaction from other members of the U.N. Security Council has been good. He told CNN's Late Edition work on a new U.N. resolution could begin by the end of the week. "All the leaders that I have spoken to recognize that this is a challenge for the United Nations. And I think they all believe it is a challenge the United Nations must meet," he said. He said the Council must draft a new resolution must include firm deadlines and no conditions for the return of weapons inspectors. "The time for Iraq to respond was years ago. They now have an opportunity to respond with this new resolution," he said. While it deals with the U.N., the Bush administration is also urging the U.S. congress to give the White House a vote of support on Iraq. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle told ABC's This Week that he is willing to work with President Bush to draft proper legislative language. But the South Dakota Democrat noted that during the Gulf War, congress waited until the administration had U-N backing before taking a formal stand on Iraq. "All we are simply saying is if we are going to do this right with more international cooperation through the U-N and multilaterally in other ways, we need to ensure that we build the coalition this president's father built in 1990 and 91," he said. President Bush has said congress does not need to wait for the United Nations. But Administration officials stressed Sunday the president is willing to meet with congressional leaders to find common ground on an Iraqi resolution that can clear both the House and the Senate.
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. . . Day by Day with VOA .. . Authorities Seek Other Suspects in New York Terror Cell . VOA News 17 Sep 2002 21:07 UTC . U.S. authorities say the ringleader of the a suspected al-Qaida terrorist cell based in New York state may have already fled to Yemen. Law enforcement officials say they are searching for Kamal Derwish, who they believe was the recruiter of the eight-member cell based near Buffalo, New York. Officials say Mr. Derwish is one of two remaining group members still unaccounted for. They say the other fugitive could also be in Yemen. Six other members of the alleged cell, operating in the small town of Lackawanna, New York, have been detained on charges of aiding terrorist organizations. The men, all U.S. citizens of Yemeni descent, are due back in a Buffalo court Wednesday for a bond hearing. Law enforcement authorities say the men underwent weapons training at an al-Qaida terrorist camp in Afghanistan last year. While at the camp they also allegedly heard a speech by Osama bin Laden. The six men in U.S. custody have entered pleas of not guilty. U.S. federal agents say they have not uncovered any evidence of a pending attack. Five of the men were arrested in the Buffalo area last week, and a sixth was detained in Bahrain while attending his own wedding. He was flown back to the United States earlier this week. Prosecutors don't believe the alleged cell was preparing any attack. Lackawanna is a former steel town with a large population of Yemeni descent. Some information for this report provided by AP.
. Argentina's Peso Drops Again . .
For the last three months, Argentine leaders, trying to put a happy face on this country's troubled economy, have pointed to the peso. It was holding steady against the dollar. But on Tuesday, the peso's retail value fell. The exchange rate slipped from 3.59 pesos to the dollar to 3.62. It is a small loss, but its timing is important, because the decline in value comes at a time when international observers are losing confidence in Argentina's government.
Argentina defaulted on $141 billion in international debt last year, plunging the country deeper into its worst economic crisis in its history. While the current government has repeatedly said Argentina cannot recover from the crisis without an emergency loan, the battle to win that loan has been uphill.
The former president of Germany's central bank has been less diplomatic. Hans Tietmeyer said in an interview published Tuesday: Argentina is no longer a significant part of Latin America's economy. He asserted the country's leaders are "without direction," and they do not deserve a bailout. The headlines add up to a headache for this country's leaders. And pundits are suggesting the IMF will cut off negotiations and wait for Argentina's next administration, which is scheduled to take office after elections next March. .
. Baghdad Life Continues Amid Talk of War . . . Iraq's announcement that it will allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return has done little to slow the talk of possible war. The United States and other western countries say they will seek U.N. approval for an attack if the inspections do not go forward freely. Such talk in recent weeks has had some impact on daily life in Iraq, but some aspects of Baghdad are quite normal.
Like many Iraqis interviewed here, Mr. Karim says the threat of war makes no difference to his business, and he says he is not afraid of war. Mr. Karim says he fought in the 1991 Gulf War against the United States and its allies, and that he is ready to fight again. The shopkeeper is speaking in the presence of an Iraqi government official who is present throughout each interview. Working in the shop next door is Vedat Sayeed, an ethnic Turcoman from the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk. He sounds just as defiant as Mr. Karim. Mr. Sayeed says the United States wants to attack Iraq so that it can gain control of its oil.
Majid Hussein is a doctor and one of the few Iraqis to be interviewed without an official present. He summed up the feelings of many of his compatriots. "Very angry, very angry, very angry, very angry. We are hate, hating America," Dr. Hussein said.
Some Iraqis openly admit that they are worried about war. None wanted their views to be recorded. But as one English language teacher put it, the Iraqi people would be crazy not to feel concerned about the effects of another war on their battered economy. Iraqi officials say plainly they are concerned that the United States will attack their country even if the inspectors' return. Abdurrazak Al Hashimi is a prominent member of the ruling Ba'ath party. He says Iraq is preparing for war. "We are doing whatever we can to defend Iraq," he said. "And this is why we are very sure that we will never let the Americans or nobody to achieve their objectives in Iraq, none whatsoever." Mr. Hashimi declines to specify what sort of measures his government is taking. And there are few visible signs that Iraq is preparing for a war. There is no increase in the number of troops patrolling the streets of Baghdad, no tanks deployed outside key government buildings. And the only shots fired in the capital for now are during weddings.
. Bush Says UN Must 'Not Be Fooled' By Saddam Hussein . Paula Wolfson White House |