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World Media Watch
by Gloria R. Lalumia
BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.
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1//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--SADDAM EXILE PLAN GATHERS PACE (Asia Times Online has learned of an unpublicized visit to Pakistan by a high-powered Saudi delegation believed to have been headed by influential Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the defense minister. The Saudis flew into the city of Rawalpindi last Friday aboard a special non-stop flight from Washington and then flew on to Paris the following day...Pakistan's support of an "exile" plan for Saddam is important as it is an influential member of the 50-plus strong Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which could, if it speaks with a united voice, increase the pressure on Saddam to step down before the bombs start falling. Since January, Pakistan has also been a temporary member of the UN Security Council.)
2//The Toronto Star, Canada--PM: CURRENT UN MANDATE ALLOWS WAR (The current UN resolution on Iraq is enough to authorize international action if inspectors find evidence that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said today in an interview with The Canadian Press. It was Chrétien's clearest statement on the issue after days of refusing to say whether Canada believes a second UN resolution would be required to authorize an invasion.
3//The Independent, UK--CABINET SPLIT OVER THREAT OF NUCLEAR RETALIATION (Clare Short, the Secretary of State for International Development, said yesterday that Britain should not launch a nuclear strike on Saddam Hussein even if the Iraqi leader were to use biological and chemical weapons in a conflict...Her remarks directly contradict Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, who said last year that President Saddam "can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons".)
4//Al Bawaba, Middle East (unnamed country)--RUSSIAN ARMY: WASHINGTON TO DECLARE WAR AGAINST IRAQ WITHIN THREE WEEKS; BRITAIN CALL UP MORE RESERVISTS ("The American administration will make a formal decision to hold a military operation in Iraq right after the U.S. Armed Forces and their allies have formed battle groups in the region. This will take about another two or three weeks," a high-ranking source in the Russian Armed Forces General Staff said on Thursday..."As far as we know, nothing concrete has been done to expose and destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan for at least several weeks.)
5//Turkish Daily News, Turkey--TURKEY'S OIL COMPANY WITHDRAWS ITS STAFF FROM IRAQ (...Turkey's state-owned oil company is withdrawing its staff from Iraq amid threats of a possible U.S. war against the neighboring nation, an official said Wednesday...Veziroglu said the company was completing drilling work outside the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk and its 60 employees there would leave in about three weeks.)
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1//Asia
Times Online January 31, 2003
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EA31Ak01.html
SADDAM EXILE PLAN GATHERS PACE
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
KARACHI - Even as the United States appears to be drawing closer by the day to attacking Iraq, behind-the-scenes efforts are continuing to find a peaceful solution to the crisis by forcing Saddam Hussein to step down at the eleventh hour to prevent his humiliating dethroning after defeat in war, with Saudi Arabia and the US playing a pivotal role in the diplomatic initiative.
Asia Times Online has learned of an unpublicized visit to Pakistan by a high-powered Saudi delegation believed to have been headed by influential Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the defense minister. The Saudis flew into the city of Rawalpindi last Friday aboard a special non-stop flight from Washington and then flew on to Paris the following day.
(SNIP)
"The high-profile delegation that arrived on January 24 in a chartered Saudi Airbus A-340-200, with registration number HZ-124, held important meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and other top brass of the military on recent developments in Iraq," the official said. He added that the Saudi delegation, which was escorted by a 20-strong elite commando guard, included two senior officials of the US government.
On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was due in Washington from Paris for talks at the White House, most likely including President George W Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Prince Saud will be the highest ranking Saudi official to visit Washington in several months.
On Wednesday, Powell, speaking to reporters, said, "If he [Saddam] were to leave the country and take some of his family members with him and others in the leading elite who have been responsible for so much trouble during the course of his regime, we would, I'm sure, try to help find a place for them to go."
(SNIP)
Other sources said that apart from one person who was a British national, the entire crew of the aircraft was from the United States. The visit of the delegation was "so secret" that not a single person from the Saudi embassy was present to welcome the visitors, the source said. "And it was not the last visit," the source said, adding, "The second phase of the mission is expected very soon."
Pakistan's support of an "exile" plan for Saddam is important as it is an influential member of the 50-plus strong Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which could, if it speaks with a united voice, increase the pressure on Saddam to step down before the bombs start falling. Since January, Pakistan has also been a temporary member of the UN Security Council.
(MORE)
2//The Toronto Star Jan. 30, 2003. 06:26 PM
ARTICLE
LINK
PM: CURRENT UN MANDATE ALLOWS WAR
Foreign minister in Washington being briefed by U.S. officials
Beth Gorham
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - The current UN resolution on Iraq is enough to authorize international action if inspectors find evidence that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said today in an interview with The Canadian Press.
It was Chrétien's clearest statement on the issue after days of refusing to say whether Canada believes a second UN resolution would be required to authorize an invasion.
But ultimately, Canada will abide by what the UN Security Council decides to do, stressed Chrétien, who has refused to state definitively whether he would participate in a U.S.-led invasion that's not sanctioned by the world body.
He said he wants to hear evidence next week from Colin Powell, the U.S. secretary of state, who is expected to expand on allegations that Hussein is hiding biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in Iraq.
(SNIP)
A relaxed Chrétien, who spoke at length during an interview at 24 Sussex, has been blasted by opposition parties all week for not clearly stating what Canada would do if the Security Council is deadlocked and the U.S. goes it alone.
"We're not the biggest but we're independent and I think that we have the most solid position. It's not a speculative position," Chrétien said.
"I want to remain calm, to act on facts."
(SNIP)
The prime minister also said he has not seen anything yet that convinces him there is a link between Iraq and the terrorist group al Qaida. U.S. President George Bush said in his state of the union speech this week that Americans have such proof.
"What I know today, it's not enough to convince me that there's a link between the two," said Chrétien. "But perhaps next Wednesday they will prove it, come up with something.
"We're collaborating (with the U.S.) but perhaps they decide to keep something for themselves.
"When they tell me what it is I will be able to judge."
(MORE)
3//The Independent 31 January 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=374182
CABINET SPLIT OVER THREAT OF NUCLEAR RETALIATION
By Paul Waugh Deputy Political Editor
Clare Short, the Secretary of State for International Development, said yesterday that Britain should not launch a nuclear strike on Saddam Hussein even if the Iraqi leader were to use biological and chemical weapons in a conflict.
Ms Short also broke cabinet ranks to give her backing to an anti-war demonstration in London planned for 15 February.
Speaking in the Commons, Ms Short made clear she would be opposed to a nuclear strike against the Iraqi regime. When asked by Tory MPs what would happen if biological or chemical weapons were deployed by Iraq, Ms Short was unequivocal. "I'm not a military planner but I can't see any scenarios ... where contemplating the use of nuclear weapons would be of any use whatsoever," she said.
Her remarks directly contradict Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, who said last year that President Saddam "can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons".
(MORE)
4//Al Bawaba January 30, 2003
ARTICLE
LINK
RUSSIAN ARMY: WASHINGTON TO DECLARE WAR AGAINST IRAQ WITHIN THREE WEEKS; BRITAIN CALL UP MORE RESERVISTS
Washington will announce the decision to hold a military operation against Iraq within the next three weeks, the Russian military command believes.
"The American administration will make a formal decision to hold a military operation in Iraq right after the U.S. Armed Forces and their allies have formed battle groups in the region. This will take about another two or three weeks," a high-ranking source in the Russian Armed Forces General Staff said on Thursday.
"Thus, the possible war in Iraq could begin after February 20," he remarked, according to Interfax. "Judging from recent military conflicts involving the United States, the American authorities will inform the Russian administration about their decision on the eve of the war, and strikes on Iraq from the air and the sea will follow in a day or two. Land units will invade Iraqi territory later," the source added.
The United States has actually stopped its campaign in Afghanistan in order to concentrate forces in the Persian Gulf, the source noted.
(SNIP)
..."As far as we know, nothing concrete has been done to expose and destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan for at least several weeks.
Washington does not even mention the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan any more. All the propaganda, reconnaissance, information and purely military resources of the United States are now pointed at Iraq," the Russian military said.
(MORE)
5//Turkish Daily News 30 January 2003
http://www.turkishdailynews.com/FrTDN/latest/for.htm#f9
TURKEY'S OIL COMPANY WITHDRAWS ITS STAFF FROM IRAQ
...Turkey's state-owned oil company is withdrawing its staff from Iraq amid threats of a possible U.S. war against the neighboring nation, an official said Wednesday.
"We're concerned about staff safety and have ordered them to finish the work as soon as possible," Turkish Petroleum Corporation General Manager Kenan Veziroglu told Dow Jones newswire.
Veziroglu said the company was completing drilling work outside the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk and its 60 employees there would leave in about three weeks.
Turkish leaders say Turkey has lost upward of US$30 billion in trade with its southern neighbor because of U.N. sanctions imposed on Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War.
(MORE)
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© 2003, Gloria R. Lalumia, insight@zianet.com
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