-Caveat Lector- http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5240896%255E401,00.html
Back off, Baghdad warns US By HUDA SALEH MAJEED in Baghdad 08oct02 IRAQ yesterday dismissed threats of US military action, vowing to teach attackers an "unprecedented" lesson. US President George W. Bush, gearing up to tell Americans why they should be prepared to fight, warned that the danger from Iraq was "grave and growing" and war might be unavoidable. Iraq, accused by Washington of developing weapons of mass destruction, which it denies, said it did not want war. "We are not warmongers. We do not want war and we do not wish it to happen," Izzat Ibrahim, vice chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council, told reporters in Kirkuk, 255km north of Baghdad. "But if it is imposed, we will fight, God willing, a great fight," he said. Mohammed Zimam Abdul Razzaq, a senior member of the ruling Ba'ath Party, said: "If fighting was imposed on us and if God wants us to fight, we swear by God to teach the enemies and those who ally with them an unprecedented lesson." Mr Bush told flag-waving supporters Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein could not be allowed to inflict "massive and sudden horror" with weapons of mass destruction. "There's no negotiations; there's nothing to talk about. We don't want you to have weapons of mass destruction," Mr Bush said, ahead of his planned television address. "If the Iraqi regime persists in its defiance, the use of force may become unavoidable," he said. Under the threat of attack, Iraq has said it will allow the return of UN weapons inspectors who left in 1998 after years spent trying to identify and destroy nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The US wants inspectors to return to Iraq only after the UN passes a tough new resolution which would give them unlimited access to Iraqi territory and Washington the right to attack if it judges Iraq has impeded the inspection process. Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri arrived in the United Arab Emirates yesterday on a tour of the Gulf aimed at staving off a US strike. Diplomats said he was probably asking Gulf states not to assist US forces to attack Iraq. The US Fifth Fleet has its headquarters in Bahrain, which Mr Sabri visited before going on to Oman and the UAE, while Washington is also building up a major base in Qatar. The Arab states have indicated they will only support a military strike on Iraq with UN backing. On the other hand Iran, for years an enemy of both its neighbour Iraq and the US, said that if US aircraft violated its airspace unintentionally while attacking Iraq, it would not be considered an "an act of enmity". Russia, France and China have grave doubts about attacking Iraq. Underlining Muslim anger, Malaysia yesterday rebuked the US for seeking Saddam's overthrow. "One nation cannot demand that another change its government � or else," Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the west's efforts were focused on disarming Saddam, not overthrowing him. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
