Don’t Attack Iraq

Dec 22, 2002

The UNITED STATES’ military build-up in the Gulf is to double in the next few weeks.

The UNITED STATES’ military build-up in the Gulf is to double in the next few weeks. About 65,000 US troops with fleets of carriers are already in the region. US President George W. Bush has now ordered the deployment of another 50,000 troops and additional hardware.
It is clear that the US is determined to attack Iraq to overthrow President Saddam Hussein. This is unacceptable. Why should the US plan to topple a leader of an independent country? As far as the Iraqis are concerned, probably the majority, Saddam is their legitimate leader. There are millions of Iraqis who will fight for him. Since the 1991 Gulf war and subsequent UN sanctions, Iraqis have rallied around their leaders contrary to western propaganda that there is rising internal opposition against Saddam. So, in trying to remove Saddam, many Iraqis will die.
The US should backtrack from the warpath. Its charge that Iraqi weapon declaration as required under UN Security Council Resolution 1441 contains “flagrant omissions” reads like an excuse to attack Iraq. Otherwise, why should massive deployment follow US accusations of Iraq’s alleged material breach of the UN resolution?
The UN resolution demanded that Baghdad make full and accurate accountability of biological, chemical and nuclear weapon programmes. Iraq complied with a 12,000-page declaration. If the US has strong evidence about mass destruction weapons in Iraq, it should have passed it onto the UN weapons’ inspectors. Otherwise America is not mandated by the UN to determine material breach and consequences. If Iraq is dissembling on its weapons, it is a UN matter not a single state’s. It should be handled and debated by the UN for credible recommendations and course of action. US should desist from taking a global police role lest she becomes an irritating bully. Ends

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