Iraq urges Arabs to attack US interests

The Guardian ^ | September 11, 2002 | Ewen MacAskill

[1bigdictator]

Iraq urges Arabs to attack US interests Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor Wednesday September 11, 2002 The Guardian

Iraq yesterday urged all Arabs to rise up and attack US citizens and property in the Middle East if Washington launches an offensive.

The Iraqi vice-president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, told a press conference in Jordan that Arabs had a duty to use any means to retaliate.

It is the most belligerent statement yet from the Iraqi government and contrasts with the gentler approach of the past few months in which Baghdad has been trying to win the sympathy of neighbouring Arab countries and divide western opinion.

Mr Ramadan said: "We categorically believe that the aggression on Iraq is an aggression on all the Arab nation. It is the right of all the Arab people, wherever they are, to fight against the aggression through their representatives and on their soil ... by all means."

He added: "We call on all Arab and good people to confront the interests of the aggressors, their materials and humans wherever they are because this is a human right."

There are US military, diplomatic and business personnel stationed throughout the Middle East. British citizens and property could be vulnerable if the UK joins the US in an offensive.

But the Iraqi call to arms is unlikely to meet with much of a response. There are no known terrorist organisations in the Middle East ready to wreak havoc on US citizens and property on Iraq's behalf. Washington alleges that Baghdad is a sponsor of terrorism but the Foreign Office has said repeatedly that there have been no known incidents of terrorism involving Iraq since the attempted assassination of the first President Bush on a visit to Kuwait 10 years ago.

The Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, who presides over one of the most secular countries in the Middle East, does not command the support of Islamist groups.

Also yesterday the Iraqi foreign minister, Naji Sabri, criticised a report by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies, published on Monday, that said Iraq could produce nuclear weapons "in a matter of months". Such assessments were "pretexts for ... aggression against our country, they know very well that these are false pretexts".

[1bigdictator]

I don't think Arabs need any encouragement to committ terrorism against the U.S. The Arabs simply have a blood lust to murder "infadels".

[Monty22]

LOL...

This is like news in 1944 that 'Hitler encourages Germans to kill Jews and other enemies'..

DUH!!!

[My2Cents]

Correct. Many will do it without provocation. The main reason to go into Iraq is to get them before they get us.

[marron]

And as you attack us, please move away from any non-combatant civilians, except for those loved ones you specifically want to take with you.

[Vidalia]

The Iraqi vice-president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, told a press conference in Jordan that Arabs had a duty to use any means to retaliate.

Another dead ass talking...

[elephantlips]

Interesting point of view for the liberals and pacifists: America is being raked over the coals for even thinking about a pre-emptive strike against those who want our demise. "We shouldn't be striking at those who haven't struck us," they say, meaning Iraq. However, we have here Iraq telling anyone who will listen, to strike America first! The liberals and pacifists would do well to relate to Sadaam and his cohorts the same message. Perhaps, they don't play by the same rules, do you think?

[BulletBrasDotNet]

Where is Hussein's speaker/liar press-secretary Tariq Azziz (sp) on this?

[Monty22]

I think Scott Ritter took over that position recently.

[ZOOKER]

There are no known terrorist organisations in the Middle East ready to wreak havoc on US citizens and property on Iraq's behalf.

I might disagree with this statement.

Saddam has been known to pump millions of dollars into Palestine --- both to Arafat and Hamas.

Also, I notice that every time Bush takes action to prepare for war with Iraq, there is another rash of homicide bombings in Israel.

The timing is just too convenient to be coincidence.

[1bigdictator]

I agree for the most part. Iraq provides safe harbor, funding and technology to Islamists because they share the same goal eventhough their motivation for terror differs. Moreover, Iraq shields itself from culpability (in the eyes of the UN and EU) by using fundametalist groups as a vehicle for carrying out terrorism. Under the legal principle of "agency", Saddam in fact gives the means and license to these attacks, and therefore should be held accountable.

[layman]

It seems to me I've heard this song before.

[blondee123]

Sounds like Saddam is looking for others to do his dirty work, since his army of 14 year olds can't handle the job!