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Iraq called us fascist Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-09-iraq-us_x.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-09-iraq-us_x.htm
Posted 3/9/2003 9:25 AM Updated 3/9/2003 10:03 AM
Iraq: World is rebelling against U.S.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraq called the United States fascist and anachronistic Sunday, applauding divisions on the U.N. Security Council and saying the world is beginning to rebel against U.S. domination.
Emboldened by the divisions and by a new report noting improved cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors, Iraq has been more vocal in its anger toward the United States in recent days.
"The world has changed, and there is a historic awakening that makes it cling to law and justice and reject and resist the law of the jungle," the newspaper Al-Thawra, mouthpiece of the ruling Baath Party, said in a front-page editorial.
"What the fascist ruling gang in Washington does not know yet is that the world — even those countries America considers friends — has changed and does not accept the fascist logic that justifies war and belittles its possible effects," it said.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, meanwhile, held a high-level meeting Sunday with Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Sultan Hashim Ahmed, his sons Odai, who commands a pro-government militia, and Qusai, who leads the elite Republican Guard Corps.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Abdel Tawab Mullah Huweish and the chiefs of the air defense forces, the air force and the atomic agency, according to the official Iraqi News Agency.
The news agency did not say what was discussed in the meeting, but quoted Huweish as telling Saddam that "Iraq's leadership, people and army are ready for the battle of destiny."
Saddam long has claimed Iraq destroyed all its weapons of mass destruction. The United States and Britain maintain he's lying, and have assembled a quarter-million troops around Iraq for a possible invasion.
In Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said the quickest way to resolve the crisis was if Saddam accepts a proposal by the United Arab Emirates calling on him to step down.
His remarks to the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat daily newspaper and Lebanon's al-Mustaqbal satellite television were the closest the kingdom has come to endorsing an idea that has angered some Arab leaders but found supporters in the Gulf.
Saud was quoted as saying of the proposal: "Its motives are not to harm Iraq, but on the contrary to protect Iraq from the evils of a military confrontation." Senior Iraqi officials say Saddam will not step down.
U.N. weapons inspectors spokesman Hiro Ueki, meanwhile, said Iraq continued to destroy al-Samoud 2 missiles Sunday, but said he wouldn't know how many until the inspectors supervising the work returned in the evening. Iraqi officials had no comment.
Since March 1, Iraq has destroyed at least 40 of its 100 Al Samoud 2 missiles, prohibited by the United Nations because some tests indicated they could fly farther than 93 miles. It also has been destroying equipment used to make them.
The destruction of the missiles, the resumption of interviews with chemical, biological and missiles experts and the excavation of destroyed biological weapons all contributed to a generally positive report by U.N. weapons inspectors to the Security Council on Friday.
Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix also documented lingering questions about Iraqi weapons programs in a 173-page dossier, which said Baghdad may still possess about 10,000 liters of anthrax, Scud missile warheads and drones capable of flying far beyond the range limit.
But the report has emboldened Iraq, as have deep divisions on the Security Council, where the United States and Britain are pushing for war soon and France, Russia and China are arguing that the inspectors need more time to verify Iraq's disarmament.
In further preparation for war, the United States is giving Saudi Arabia technical aid to handle a surge of Iraqi refugees, Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Sultan said late Saturday.
Sultan's remarks were the first public acknowledgment of U.S. involvement in war preparations in the kingdom, a sensitive issue in Saudi Arabia because of strong Muslim opposition to a campaign.
In a news conference, Sultan confirmed reports the government had closed an airport near the Iraqi border to civilian traffic, saying Araar Airport would be used as a base for providing humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees and not, as Saudi opposition groups have claimed, as a base for U.S. military operations.
But Sultan also said Saudi Arabia is willing to hold military maneuvers with the United States near the northern town of Tabuk, 60 miles south of the Jordanian border. He said Saudi Arabia has troops there in case Israel violates Saudi airspace.
"We cannot forget that we are in a state of aggression with Israel, which is doing its utmost to hurt the kingdom at this sensitive time," Sultan said.
"This doesn't mean that we are with the Americans," added Sultan. "But if you, Americans, want to ensure that we are not going to fight Israel, come and carry out maneuvers with us. We won't mind."
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