A rchive Date
[ 23-02-2005 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Iraq ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSAttack0202/23_saddam-ap.html
Current U.S. threats more palatable
Saturday, February 23, 2002
BAGHDAD (AP-CP) - U.S. threats aimed at toppling the Iraqi regime were more "civilized" than Washington's aggressive campaign to harm the Iraqi people, President Saddam Hussein said in comments reported Saturday.
"We may be able to accept the slogan of toppling the regime, as it is more civilized and better than the aggressive slogan of destroying and harming innocent people they (the Americans) are following now," Saddam said at the beginning Friday of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice.
Following the Persian Gulf War, severe economic sanctions were imposed on Iraq, which critics say are directly responsible for a current food crisis among the most vulnerable members of Iraqi society - the poor, elderly, newborn, sick and young.
U.S. foreign policy has consistently targetted Iraq, Saddam told state-run television, radio and newspapers for Saturday editions.
"They are doing so on daily basis," the Iraqi leader said.
U.S. and British warplanes now patrol no-fly zones established over northern and southern Iraq following the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Saddam says the zones violate international law and is challenging allied planes patrolling them, as he has been since December 1998.
U.S. President George W. Bush last month said Iraq belonged to an "axis of evil" bent on backing terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction.
Bush has warned Saddam that Iraq would face unspecified consequences if he did not allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq.
"They (the Americans) claim to be afraid that Iraq may possess weapons of mass destruction and may give them to terrorists organizations to threaten America. This is baby talk," Saddam said.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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