Aziz: Destroying missiles would be 'unacceptable'

CNN (Clinton News Network) ^ | Saturday, February 15, 2003 Posted: 6:48 PM EST (2348 GMT) | CNN (Clinton News Network)

[TSgt]

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said in an interview with CNN on Saturday that it would be "unacceptable" for U.N. weapons inspectors to destroy Iraqi missiles found to violate U.N. limits and dismissed the idea of sending U.N. peacekeepers to Iraq.

A team of independent experts, commissioned by Hans Blix, chief of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), determined that during testing, Iraq's Al Samoud 2 missiles traveled more than 93 miles (about 150 kilometers), the range limit allowed by previous U.N. resolutions restricting Iraq's weapons capability.

Aziz said the missiles exceeded the range by less than six miles and only because they lacked guidance systems. He said they do not pose a threat that would warrant their destruction.

"They should not be destroyed because they are practically within the range we are allowed to have," he said. "It would be quite unfair and unacceptable by any scientific and security standards ... Destruction should be based on a reason, a reason linked with questions of security and peace."

While on a trip to Rome to meet with Pope John Paul II, Aziz also dismissed a reported plan to send U.N. peacekeepers to Iraq.

"Iraq is a sovereign state. It has provided all of the security needed to re-inspect us, and we don't need United Nations troops to interfere or to be in our country," he said.

French officials have confirmed that they have discussed with Germany and other U.N. Security Council members several proposals short of war that would increase pressure on Baghdad.

European media reported that those proposals include sending a U.N. peacekeeping force into Iraq to give the inspections regimen more teeth, though French and German ministers have denied that a plan to send several thousand troops to Iraq had been agreed upon.

Aziz said the Iraqi government would comment "formally" on a peacekeeper proposal only if one is made.

U.N. weapons inspectors have also been pressing Iraq to allow scientists involved in weapons-related work to be interviewed privately. Aziz said Iraq has promised to encourage them to do so, but he also defended the practice of scientists bringing tape recorders into those interviews.

"What's wrong in taking a tape recorder?" Aziz said. "If I want to talk to you about anything, I will put a tape recorder that will help me be reminded of what I said."

He said the suggestion that scientists might not feel free to talk candidly if their conversations were taped was a "political accusation."

Inspectors' report shows 'progress' Aziz also described Friday's report on the progress of the inspection efforts by Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as "positive" and said it showed "progress" in the inspections program.

"My assessment is that the outcome which the majority of the Security Council reached was, and is, that inspectors should be given enough time to continue their work," he said. "We hope that UNMOVIC and the IAEA are honestly, professionally trying to seek the truth. In this regard, we are ready to cooperate fully, and we are cooperating fully.

"We are becoming more and more forthcoming with them because it is in our interest. We have to do it. We want this job to be finished as soon as possible."

Responding to criticisms by Blix and ElBaradei that Iraq has not provided full documentation of its weapons programs, Aziz said, "Not every activity is fully documented" and that material might have been lost during the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and a U.S.-led bombing in 1998.

He said Iraqi officials are "not sitting in an air-conditioned building putting archives one beside the other, and then when somebody comes ... you present all the communication. There is a quite different situation in Iraq after 1991 until now."

Aziz confirmed that during their meeting Friday, the pope pressed Iraq to do more to cooperate with U.N. inspection efforts in order to avoid military action. But Aziz said he was "not annoyed" by those comments.

"There is a difference in motive. When an impartial, good-willing person like the Holy Father says that, I am not annoyed," he said. "But when an American source says that, which has a different motive, that's different."

[TSgt]

And the deception continues: Won't destroy missiles, No UN troops (we knew that already), Tape recording Iraqi scientist interviews, Zero documentation of WMD destruction…

I mean come on, what's 6 miles when you're talking about a few missiles filled with Anthrax or VX?

[Semper Paratus]

Sadaam thinks he has good cards with Euro-Weenie reaction in UN and the streets, so like any Las Vegas rube he is overplaying his hand.

[First_Salute]

"unacceptable by any scientific standards" that the value 93 in Iraq is actually 98.99999999...

[WestPoint90]

Material Breach.

[NewYorker]

Sadaam thinks he has good cards with Euro-Weenie reaction in UN and the streets, so like any Las Vegas rube he is overplaying his hand.

Exactly what I was thinking. Thanks to their buddies at the UN they think they're home free. They're in for a surprise.

[nothingnew]

"We are becoming more and more forthcoming with them because it is in our interest...

Kind of says it all, doesn't it?...guess they were not very forthcoming in the past, and may be more forthcoming in the future?...I don't think aziz has much of a future.

FMCDH

[LibKill]

Forget the U.N.

The U.S.M.C., U.S.A., U.S.N., and U.S.A.F. will do the job that the eurotrash can't bring themselves to do.

[George W. Bush]

European media reported that those proposals include sending a U.N. peacekeeping force into Iraq to give the inspections regimen more teeth, though French and German ministers have denied that a plan to send several thousand troops to Iraq had been agreed upon.

The key information in this article. This is what is being floated for the public's reaction.

If nothing else can be done, expect the French and Germans to try for a peacekeeping force authorization in the U.N. to forestall U.S. and British forces.

We need to strike quickly and without warning so France and Germany don't have time to mobilize their propaganda mills on the Left worldwide. If we wait the full amount of time, they will have opportunity to make trouble in the Security Council or to simply fly in their own peacekeepers which would be, in effect, human shields for Saddam.

[AntiGuv]

I mean come on, what's 6 miles when you're talking about a few missiles...

Exactly.

I think this a rather flimsy cause for war - in and of itself - but if this serves as cover for a UN resolution, then so be it. Whatever works...

[George W. Bush]

U.S.M.C., U.S.A., U.S.N., and U.S.A.F.

And the British S.A.S. who is already inside Iraq with us right now. I hope we don't forget that we have many more friends in Europe than just the Axis of Weasels even though only Britain is willing to risk her forces with us.

[SevenDaysInMay]

I wonder if Azis will also be hanged as this Baath water is thrown out with Saddamn baby?

[InvisibleChurch]

i'll bet aziz defects

[LibKill]

And the British S.A.S. who is already inside Iraq with us right now. I hope we don't forget that we have many more friends in Europe than just the Axis of Weasels even though only Britain is willing to risk her forces with us.

Thanks, brother. I didn't mean to slight our only real friends.

[Democratshavenobrains]

If Aziz is still alive by the time the new government comes into Baghdad, he'll be acting like he hated Saddam the whole time.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Bryan24]

Saddam Hussein has to be the most inept leader at foreign policy alive today. He wins a major victory in the UN Security Council, then destroys his victory by telling the Un he won't destroy his illegal missles, the same illegal missles he agreed not to possess.

This will be an interesting war. With the full-blown advent of the internet, information of Iraqi destruction will be disseminated immediately.

[DAnconia55]

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said in an interview with CNN on Saturday that it would be "unacceptable" for U.N. weapons inspectors to destroy Iraqi missiles found to violate U.N. limits and dismissed the idea of sending U.N. peacekeepers to Iraq.

That's ok, buddy Aziz. No need for the UN to bother.

We'll handle it for you. Shortly.

[Guillermo]

If he defects, all of his family, to the fifth removed, will die.

[whadizit]

Keep on, Aziz. Keep it up. Don't worry. We'll destroy them in a few weeks.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Aziz-a real Christian in his position would have been sent to that big butt kissers reward in the sky, long ago.

[Post Toasties]

Time to roll before Yurrup ships Iraq more human hostages.

[Robert_Paulson2]

We need to strike quickly and without warning so France and Germany don't have time to mobilize their propaganda mills

---

I suspect it may be a little late for that. Indeed. We have already waited too long... Perhaps Iraq is not the one and only target for our "actions." Perhaps we need more time for our own readiness levels to be established. Perhaps we KNOW that russia is going to nuke us... and we are dragging things out, till we get a partial missile shield in place. BUT, regardless, it FEELS as if we are past the point of a "quick strike" that would put a partial conclusion in hand. I do NOT want to go if we are not ready. And moving half a million men and war materiels to match... would take a little logistics beyond MY feeble comprehension. I hope we have NOT waited too long. Saints preserve us.

[fightinJAG]

And when is this even more brazen defiance going to be trumpeted from the rooftops by the lamestream media? Never.

[fightinJAG]

"becoming more adn more forthcoming because it is in our interests"

In the youbetcha category. This is what gets me about the axis of weasels: they have made war MORE likely by not joining us in an united front of pressure on the Butcher.

[doug from upland]

Indeed, many of us have been saying it for some time. The demonstrators are causing Hussein to make the wrong decision. The demonstrators and the United Nations are leading us to war.

[George W. Bush]

I hope we have NOT waited too long.

I don't think we have. And I don't think Russia has any nasty tricks waiting for us. I am much more concerned about just where Saddam's chemical and bioweapons are and whether, now that we are coming to kill him, if he'll just use them on our troops in a final act of defiance to buy himself a few more days of life. There's little doubt that Hitler would have done it if he could have. I'm concerned for our troops' safety. That pig in Baghdad doesn't care about anyone or anything.

[Post Toasties]

After Saddam is out, publicizing the Iraqi WMD found that Saddam has been able to hide from Blix and his Sidekix would seem to be a good way to discredit the assumptions of those who are effectively acting to protect Saddam Hussein.

The recent reverses that France and Germany have had wrt their proposals for UN 'peacekeepers' and non-compliant missile destruction should give at least a limited boost to the idea removing Saddam, since he is already starting to revert to form.

[maro]

That's why we have to execute all the top Saddamites. Have to be tougher on them than we were with the Nazis and the French collaborators. (We let them off the hook, and their descendants are rewarding us for our kindness.) Also, have to execute all members of Saddam's family, lest a Pretender rise up some years down the road. This will be hard to do, because a lot of people will squeal, but it's absolutely necessary.

[tessalu]

Iraq is a rogue nation, and I have news for Aziz, this is just not acceptable!

[American in Israel]

This has been the choice given Iraq from the begining. Destroy your WMD or we will destroy them for you.

As a good tag line says "Iraq has won the toss and has chosen to recieve".

So be it.

[ImphClinton]

"We are becoming more and more forthcoming with them because it is in our interest. We have to do it. We want this job to be finished as soon as possible."

Basically saying they are trying to give us as little as possible.

We must stop this 12 year charade and bomb the heck out of Iraq then topple the government and install a more friendly one after all the weapons have been destroyed.

[MadIvan]

You know what time it is...

Regards, Ivan

[conservativecorner]

Bombs Away!!

[mhking]

So they continue to dictate terms?

[The Wizard]

bingo, material breach, we're going in. period.

[dfwgator]

Saddam: "Our enemies are little worms, I saw them at the UN."

[neutrino]

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said in an interview with CNN on Saturday that it would be "unacceptable" for U.N. weapons inspectors to destroy Iraqi missiles found to violate U.N. limits and dismissed the idea of sending U.N. peacekeepers to Iraq.

Saddam thinks he's won...and without a shot fired.

[Young Werther]

I agree with Aziz!

We should begin by destroying HIM!!! Then we destroy Saddam and his little dog too!!!

Enough already. They don't get to dictate the terms. When we say bend over they should be reaching for their ankles, nothing else!

[InvisibleChurch]

will he care?