Posted on 01/26/2003 8:59:03 AM PST by FairOpinion
Hussein adviser braced for war Iraq cooperating with U.N. but can't stop U.S., he says; 'I don't think it is up to us'; U.S. push blamed; threats to scientists are denied
BAGHDAD, Iraq - President Saddam Hussein's chief adviser on weapons inspections said yesterday that the Iraqi government is cooperating fully with the United Nations and sees nothing more it can do to stave off war with the United States.
In a wide-ranging interview with a group of Western reporters, Gen. Amir Saadi indicated he believes a war is almost inevitable, but he put the onus on the United States. He said external factors such as a faltering U.S. economy, peace protests in the United States or behind-the-scenes pressure from U.S. allies might halt the march toward war - but not any action on the part of Iraq.
"I don't think it is up to us," Saadi said. "We are doing all things we think can prevent war. ... We have been doing everything we've been asked to do, and we got nowhere."
Saadi spoke as three more Iraqi scientists - two in Baghdad and one in the northern city of Mosul - refused to be questioned by U.N. officials without government authorities present. The confidential interviews are a key issue for U.S. and U.N. officials seeking information on Iraq's suspected arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.
U.S. officials have accused the Iraqi government of intimidating its scientists into silence. Last week, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that Iraq has "ordered that any scientist who cooperates during interviews will be killed, as well as their families."
Saadi rejected such accusations and insisted that the government had done its best to encourage the nine scientists who had been summoned to talk. But he said officials could not force people to comply with the U.N. request.
"It's a legal question," he said.
Iraq's chief liaison with the inspectors, Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin, added that if the scientists did agree to talk privately, the United States would come up with another demand, because it is continually "moving the goal posts."
==========
In an apparently unrelated event about an hour later, a man in his 20s carrying a notebook stopped a convoy that was leaving the compound and got into one of the automobiles. When security guards pulled him out, he yelled, "Save me! Save me!" in English.
Hiro said the notebook was empty and that the man was turned over to Iraqi officials. The U.N. spokesman said he did not know what the man's grievance was or why someone seeking U.N. help was given to Iraqi authorities - particularly when the United Nations is trying to convince Iraqi scientists to confide in them.
(Excerpt) Read more at sunspot.net ...
See also other thread: "Handed over to his doom" http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/829772/posts
This article was the only one I have seen, which made that particular point, which we have been making here. How can anyone trust the UN after this incident?!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.