Lowering War Clouds Threatening Iraq: News Analysis

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 08, 2002

Lowering War Clouds Threatening Iraq: News Analysis

Though Iraq faces a threatening war situation it does not mean a new war is unavoidable. As things stand with the US and UK, Iraq has the time and the possibility to avoid a new war. This is because a "a good reason for waging a war" remains still in force irrespective of the attitude of the US and UK and varied views found over the Iraq issue.

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October 4, US Secretary of State Colin Powell agreed with chief UN inspector Hans Blix on arrangements that UN's weapons inspection would not be resumed prior to a new UN resolution to be taken on Iraq.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that as a new UN resolution is under discussion by Security Council members, regardless of the inspectors having had preparations made, Hans Blix should get his men familiar with the content of the new resolution under discussion before resuming their inspection. Acting on this, no UN weapons inspectors' "advance entry" should be made into Iraq for the time being at the least.

As known to people, the international community especially the Arab world are trying to do work on Iraq in an effort to make it agree on a return of UN inspectors after a lapse of four years and be sure no war is to be imposed in the Middle East. But things as unexpected tell new increased war possibilities to fall on Iraq though its Foreign Minister Naji Sabri had formally stated unconditionally agreeing on UN's inspection arrangements.

The main causes are with the US and UK as they do not rest assured with Iraq's statement accepting UN weapons inspection and new pressure is wanted and Iraq will have to be disarmed according to them. UN inside sources also say that the US has asked for a new resolution by the UN to give Iraq 7 days to consider free access to "all sites" by UN inspectors and 30 days for it to reveal its biochemical weapons, missile and other armament development plans. Should Iraq not act accordingly as demanded by the US and UK all possible means and force would be used against it, the two powers warned.

It goes without saying the terms must be most harsh and most hard to accept by Iraq as a sovereign state. Naturally Iraq publicly declared its firm stand that it would in no way accept any such harsh "demands" from the UN.

As for new resolution under discussion, except the US and UK, other UN Security Council member nations have held to varied views. They hold that the urgent thing at present facing the UN Security Council is an earlier return of UN weapons inspectors to Bagdad to let the results of inspections speak of themselves and no new war should be unleashed.

News reports also say that US Secretary of State Colin Powell has conceded to the fact that it takes time for UN Security Council member countries to accept US's new moves to be taken. Meanwhile, Powell said that he is confident to find a way to smooth the differences of views held. International opinion holds that in spite of US's objection, France's proposal for finding a two-phased solution may finally replace the US's "one move" demand within the framework of the UN. In brief, two UN resolutions are to be raised. One, Iraq is demanded unconditionally to offer UN weapons inspectors free access to "all sites" including Saddham's 8 palaces as well as the country's Mosques and government office buildings; two is a second move to impose a war on Iraq should it reject to act on the UN's first resolution.

For the present Bush Administration's attitude is manifest when a resolution is not to be excluded to give the US the right to strike Iraq within the framework of the UN. If no UN resolution could be sought the US would "lead its allies to disarm Iraq before it launches attacks on the US".

Though Iraq faces a threatening war situation it does not mean a new war is unavoidable. As things stand with the US and UK, Iraq has the time and the possibility to avoid a new war. This is because a "a good reason for waging a war" remains still in force irrespective of the attitude of the US and UK and varied views found over the Iraq issue.

Moreover, as the US and UK publicly stated, they will have to "find all possible ways for a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue". When things should be contrarily said, "Iraq would have no way to escape a war" from its US and UK attackers.

By People's Daily Online

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