Iraq: Crisis is made up
Iraq, Politics, 1/29/1998

Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Sahaf on Wednesday had harsh words for chief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler and said that there is no crisis over the inspections, only one issue to be resolved: access to presidential sites.

Sahaf called for Butler to be reprimanded for comments Butler issued saying that Iraq has enough biological agents to "blow away Tel Aviv." Sahaf said he was "shocked by the outrageous statements" Butler made, calling the allegations "cheap lies." The comments constituted "deadly mistakes to his [Butler's] honesty," also calling his neutrality and professionalism into question, the Iraqi foreign minister said.

Butler's remarks -- which were not backed by information presented in reports to the U.N. Security Council -- also drew strong criticism from Russia and France.

Sahaf also addressed the issue of access to presidential sites, reasserting the Iraqi position that no further discussions on the topic should be undertaken until after a scheduled technical committee meeting to evaluate allegations that chemical and / or biological materials are stored at the sites.

He said any crisis over the issue is "fabricated" by the U.S. "to divert the attention of the Security Council and international public opinion" away from the fact that UNSCOM inspections are continuing in Iraq. The U.S. seeks to "falsely justify a unilateral... use of force against Iraq," Sahaf said.

Iraq is seeking ways to resolve the issue without a military confrontation, including following up on current European contacts. Iraq's government is "considering suggestions... that we should go to the International Court of Justice in order to complain against American military threats" and to seek advice, Sahaf said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is in Europe Thursday at the start of a tour that will include stops in Gulf states and the Middle East to discuss the U.S. position toward Iraq. "I will be explaining the American position to leaders in the countries I visit, while making it clear that in confronting the clear and present danger posed by Iraqi lawlessness, the diplomatic string is running out," Albright said Wednesday.

Albright spoke about the U.S. willingness to launch military strikes against Iraq if it deems them necessary. "First of all, we are not seeking a [U.N.] resolution. We have made very clear that we have the authority to use military force, and we are not seeking a resolution," she said

"I am not going anywhere to seek support. I am going to explain our position. And while we prefer always to go multilaterally and have as much support as possible, we are prepared to go unilaterally," Albright said.

The strong tone of these statements from Albright is not likely to be welcomed by the Arab states as they have expressed opposition to the use of force, and said that such action is not in their best interest.

Some analysts perceive a great danger ahead as the US further constrains and paints itself into a corner with its rhetoric, obliging it to use force. Others are saying that is is a calculated strategy that will be presented to the Arab leaders as, "We have no option since our credibility is on the line."

The US statements are confrontational, and represent lack of interest in a genuine solution and a way out of this crisis. The US is "yelling" in the face of a head of state, and is expecting a solution. Noted US journalist, Robert Novak, of the Chicago Sun-Times, on Jan 22 described an inspection proposal by Jack Kemp of Empower America, that will provide for Iraqi compliance and an end to this crisis. It has fallen on deaf ears. The noted journalist attributes the driving force behind the US policy position to Secretary Albright.

For now, with her statements, Albright is guns ablazing, and taking US interests in the region down the drain, as she highlights and magnifies the growing and fundamental rift in US- Arab strategic interests.

Previous Stories:
  Dissecting US sanctions: The domestic politics   (1/28/1998)
  Iraq, the US and Richard Butler   (1/28/1998)
  AL against military strikes on Iraq   (1/27/1998)

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