[Here we print the views of what the United States Government calls "rogue" states--bourgeois governments that are not always sufficiently in line with Uncle Sam's desires. Ever since September 11th, the United States Government has threatened to attack about 60 countries. Near the top of the list would have to be northern Korea and Iraq, with Iraq being the most likely target. Of the following statements, the one by Saudi Arabia is by a government not yet consider "rogue" by Uncle Sam--International Minister, MIM] northern Korea Source: http://www.kcna.co.jp/calendar/frame.htm October 9 DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman on launch of U.S. military operation Pyongyang, October 9 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK today answered the following question put by KCNA as regards the U.S. launch of its military operation in retaliation against the large-scale terrorist attacks. The U.S. proclaimed what it calls "military retaliation" after the large-scale terrorist attacks on the U.S. and has made its preparations in every way. On October 8 it launched a military operation against Afghanistan. As a consequence, the world faces another war. As already clarified, it is the principled stand of the DPRK to oppose all forms of terrorism and any support to it and so the DPRK has been consistently opposed to terrorism. The DPRK's opposition to terrorism is aimed to promote global peace and stability and defend the sovereignty of the country and nation and protect the safety of the people and their properties. The method of combating terrorism should be in full accord with such purpose in any case. The use of armed forces or a war to kill innocent people and aggravate regional situation and disturb regional stability contrary to the purpose can not be justified under any circumstances. We hold that the action of the U.S. should not be a source of vicious circle of terrorism and retaliation that may plunge the world into the holocaust of war. The DPRK has so far done what it is obliged to do to combat terrorism. The U.S., however, has pursued a hostile policy toward the DPRK, still keeping it on the list of "sponsors of terrorism" under an unreasonable pretext. Under this situation the DPRK is following the situation with vigilance. The DPRK is proud that it has increased its national defence capabilities of its own choice in every way no matter what others may say. The DPRK will closely watch the developments in full readiness to cope with any case. -------------------------------------------------- Stability needs wisdom, not force, says President Saddam Hussein Baghdad, Oct. 8, INA President Saddam Hussein met on Sunday members of Iraq's Command of Arab Ba'th Socialist Party, Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadhan, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, members Ali Hassan al-Majeed and Latif Nsayef Jassim, Deputy Prime Minister Hikmat al-Azawi and Head of Presidency Office Ahmed Hussein Khudhayer. During the meeting, the attendance discussed events of the recent U.S aggression against Afghanistan. The meeting issued the following statement: We said in series of statements that the World is in need to use wisdom not force, retaliation or harm, to achieve peace and security. America today launches aggression on the most poverty- stricken country and people-Afghanistan. Everyone who truly believes in God condemns this act because it is an aggressive act happened outside the framework of the international law and because the accusation sent by America against some people is not convincible. This style will only lead to more instability and lawlessness in the World. Stability needs wisdom, not force and the use of military power against Afghanistan and its faithful people. America might increase the use of force and include other countries. The whole World will be convinced that America with its hostility and aggression for 50 years depended on terrorism and created it against others as it created it against itself. Stability and security will be achieved when the aggressors stop their aggression and practice justice and put an end to their hostility against Iraq and Palestine. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------ IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS USA MAY USE TERRORISM AS PRETEXT FOR ATTACK Text of live studio interview with Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri by Khadijah Bin-Qinnah broadcast by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 8 October [Bin-Qinnah] US sources said the United States might target Iraq within its campaign against what it calls terrorism. I have with me in the studio Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, who arrived in Doha today to take part in the Arab foreign ministers' meetings on the sidelines of the emergency conference of the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] Mr Minister, first, what is your reaction to the US statements which hint at targeting Iraq after Afghanistan? [Sabri] Iraq has been under US-UK aggression for 11 years. It has been under daily British and US and air bombardment in the north and the south. The United States and its allies know well that Iraq has nothing to do with what happened and that Iraq has nothing to do at all with the groups which the United States charge with masterminding what happened. So if the United States and its British ally wish to expand the scope of aggression against Iraq under the pretext of terrorism, then that would reflect their desire to settle their scores with Iraq under the pretext of terrorism. [Bin-Qinnah] So, is Iraq bracing itself for the worst possibilities? [Sabri] We have been vigilant for 11 years, for we have been under continued aggression for 11 years. Iraqi cities and villages in the north and the south come under daily bombing by British and US planes. [Bin-Qinnah] Mr Minister, we are not talking about overflights, but about real air and perhaps ground attacks? [Sabri] No, they are not just overflights. They are rather British and US air strikes in the south and the north. If they want to expand the scope of this aggression, under the pretext of terrorism, then that would reflect the desire to settle scores with Iraq, using the pretext of terrorism. They know well that Iraq is a victim of terrorism and they know well that Iraq has nothing at all to do with neither what happened in the United States nor with the parties and groups which the United States charge with what happened. [Bin-Qinnah] But is Iraq capable militarily and economically of withstanding an expected strike? [Sabri] This is our fate. We defend our country with all available means. The Iraqis have valiantly defended their country, honour, and people for 11 years. This is the Iraqis' duty and right to self-defence. [Bin-Qinnah] Mr Minister, what do you think about Usamah Bin-Ladin's inclusion of Iraq and the Iraqi people's suffering in the speech that was aired yesterday through the media and through the Al-Jazeera channel? Some observers interpreted it as an attempt to draw the sympathy of Muslims around the world. [Sabri] I believe, madam, that if you go to any Islamic country on earth, you will find sympathy and similar feelings towards Iraq and Palestine. Iraq and Palestine are two cases that cause pain and suffering for millions of Muslims around the globe. Therefore, I believe that the reference to Iraq and Palestine is a natural reference and is made by all Muslims everywhere. I do not believe that - [Bin-Qinnah, interrupting] So you welcome it? [Sabri] I believe that this a natural reference made by all Muslims everywhere. They are pained by the suffering of the Iraqi and Palestinian peoples. I do not believe that it is possible to add any additional interpretations to this reference to Iraq. [Bin-Qinnah] Mr Minister, what are your expectations regarding the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers and then the OIC [Organization of the Islamic Conference] foreign ministers in Doha? [Sabri] The Arab foreign ministers will hold a meeting for consultations on the sidelines of the OIC meeting, so that they will be prepared as an Arab group within the framework of the OIC foreign ministers. The Arab and OIC ministers should develop a unified stand on an issue that is of primary interest to them, for Arabs and Muslims are targeted by this US campaign. Minutes after what happened in New York and Washington, the accusing fingers pointed at the Muslims and Arabs. Consequently, the Afghan people are coming under attack. We are witnessing a major campaign and fanaticism in the Western states against Arabs and Muslims in the media, among officials, and among average citizens. Therefore, Arabs and Muslims are being targeted. Arabs and Muslims should develop a unified stand that rejects aggression against the Arab and Muslim countries and rejects confusion between terrorism and Islam. [Bin-Qinnah] Mr Minister, how do you assess the reactions or stands of the Arab and Islamic states on the US strikes against Afghanistan? Condemnations have so far come out from Iraq and Iran only. [Sabri] We hope that Arabs and Muslims will take a fair stand, for the aggression is aimed against all Arabs and Muslims. The major terrorist campaign launched by the United States targets everybody. Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 2040 gmt 8 Oct 01 _________________________________________________ ____________________ http://www.uruklink.net/iraq/emss15.htm Open letter from Saddam Hussein to the American peoples and the western peoples and their governments. “In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most merciful” Once again, we would like to comment on what happened in America on September 11, 2001, and its consequences. The comments we made on the next day of the event represent the essence of our position regarding this event and other events, but the aftermath of what happened in America, in the West in particular and in the world in general, makes it important for every leader to understand the meaning of responsibility toward his people, his nation, and humanity in general to follow up the development of the situation, to understand the meaning of what is going on, and hence to elaborate his country’s and people’s position so as not to restrict oneself to only following the event. When the event took place Arab rulers and the rulers of countries whose religion of their people is Islam, rushed to condemn the event. The Westerners rushed within hours to make statements and adopt resolutions, some of which are dangerous ones, in solidarity with America and against terrorism. Even before being sure, western governments decided to join their forces to the America even if that meant declaring war on the party that will be proved to have been involved in what happened. It is only normal to say that by the explanation of the present situation, as it has been said or by comparison to the action previously taken by America against specific countries, it could be enough for some of the executors of the operation to have come from a country named by America or said to have instigated the operation, for the American military retaliation on what they call an aggression. We don’t know if they would do the same thing whether any of the planners and executors of the operation were found, to have lived or held the nationality of a Western country or whether the intention and the designs are already made against an Islamic party. It is most probable from the beating of media war drums that America and some Western governments are targeting a party who won’t be but Muslim. The event that took place in America is an extraordinary event. It is not a simple one. According to figures announced by official American sources or by what has been spread by the media, the number of victims is great. Nobody has any doubts, or denies that America and the West have the capabilities to mobilize force and use it, to inflict destruction on others on the basis of simple doubts or even whimsically, and can send their American missiles and the NATO fighters to where ever they want to destroy and harm whoever America decides to harm in a fit of anger, by greed, or by being pushed by Zionism. Many countries of the world have suffered from America’s technological might, and many peoples do recognize that America had killed thousands or even millions of human beings in their countries. The event that took place in America was an extraordinary one. It is not a simple event. It is the first time that someone crosses to America to unleash the fire of his anger inside it, as indicated by what was said by the media, on the hypothesis that the executors of this act came from abroad. Since this event is unprecedented, is it wise to deal with it by precedent methods that can be used by whoever has the technical and scientific capacities of America and the West !? If the target and the aim is one or more Islamic countries, as it has been said by the media and the intelligence services of some Western countries, this would only fall in the same direction that America and the West have always taken by targeting their fire on wherever they want to experiment a new weapon on. We ask again : America’s targeting the fire of its weapons on specific targets, and harming it or destroying it with the support of Western governments and of a fabricated story would it solve the problem? Would this bring security to America and the world? Or Isn’t the use by America and some Western governments of their fire against others in the world including, or in the forefront of whom the Arabs and the Muslims, is one of the most important reasons of the lack of stability in the world at the present time? Isn’t the evil inflicted on America in the act of September 11, 2001, and nothing else is a result of this and other acts? This is the main question and this is what the American administration along with of the Western governments or the Western public opinion should answer in the first place with serenity and responsibility, without emotional reaction and without the use of the same old methods that America used against the world. On September 12, 2001, we said that no one crossed the Atlantic to America carrying weapons before this event, except the Westerners who established the United States of America. America is the one who crossed the Atlantic carrying arms of destruction and death against the world. Here we want to ask a question: wasn’t the use of American weapons, including the nuclear weapon against Japan, enough before September 11, 2001, for America to prepare to use it in a heavier and a stronger way? Or isn’t using it in an irresponsible way, and without justification as does any oppressive force in the world, is what made America the most hated country in the world, starting from the Third World, to the Medium World and passing to the civilized world, as is the world divided by the West and America? The national security of America and the security of the world could be attained if the American leaders and those who beat the drums for them among the rulers of the present time in the West or outside the West become rational, if America disengages itself from its evil alliance with Zionism, which has been scheming to exploit the world and plunge it in blood and darkness, by using America and some Western countries. What the American peoples need mostly is someone who tells them the truth, courageously and honestly as it is. They don’t need fanfares and cheerleaders, if they want to take a lesson from the event so as to reach a real awakening, in spite of the enormity of the event that hit America. But the world, including the rulers of America, should say all this to the American peoples, so as to have the courage to tell the truth and act according to what is right and not what to is wrong and unjust, to undertake their responsibilities in fairness and justice, and by recourse to reason, passion, according to the spirit of chance and capability. In addition, we say to the American peoples, what happened on September 11, 2001 should be compared to what their government and their armies are doing in the world, for example, the international agencies have stated that more than one million and a half Iraqis have died because of the blockade imposed by America and some Western countries, in addition to the tens of thousands who died or are injured in the military action perpetrated by America along with those who allied with it against Iraq. Hundreds of bridges, churches, mosques, colleges, schools, factories, palaces, hotels, and thousands of private houses were destroyed or damaged by the American and Western bombardment, which is ongoing even today against Iraq. If you replay the images of the footage taken by the western media itself of this destruction, you will see that they are not different from the images of the two buildings hit by the Boing airplanes, if not more atrocious, especially when they are mixed with the remains of men, women, and children. There is, however, one difference, namely that those who direct their missiles and bombs to the targets, whether Americans or from another Western country, are mostly targeting by remote controls, that is why they do so as if they were playing an amusing game. As for those who acted on September 11, 2001, they did it from a close range, and with, I imagine, giving their lives willingly, with an irrevocable determination. For this reason also, the Americans, and the world with them, should understand the argument that made those people give their lives in sacrifi, and what they sacrificed themselves for, in that way. When one million and a half Iraqi human beings die, according to Western documents, from a population of twenty five million, because of the American blockade and aggression, it means that Iraq has lost about one twentieth of its population. And just as your beautiful skyscrapers were destroyed and caused your grief, beautiful buildings and precious homes crumbled over their owners in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq by American weapons used by the Zionists. In only one place, which was a civilian shelter, which is the Ameriyah Shelter, more than four hundred human beings, children, young and old men and women, died in Iraq by American bombs. In the same day, the 11th of September, one of their aggressive military airplanes was shot down over Iraq. And on the same day of the event in America on 11th September, and American jetfighter was perpetration aggression against Iraq and was shot down. As for what is going on in Palestine, if Zionist let you see on your TVs the bodies of children, women and men who are daily killed by American weapons, and with American backing to the Zionist entity, the pain you are feeling would be appeased. Americans should feel the pain they have inflicted on other peoples of the world, so as when they suffer, they will find the right solution and the right path. All that has been inflicted on the Arabs and Muslims by America and the West, didn’t push Muslims to become racists and harass the Westerners who walk in the streets of Baghdad, Damascus, Tunis, Cairo and other Arab capitals, even when the Westerners, and especially Americans insulted the holy sites of Muslim and Arabs by what is almost an occupation of Saudi Arabia in order to launch their evil fires against Baghdad, and when the American carriers roam the Arab Gulf, and their fighters daily roam the sky to throw tons of bombs and missiles over Iraq, so that about two hundred thousand tons of bombs have been used against Iraq , in addition to using depleted uranium!! All these are facts that are very well known not only to Arabs and Muslims, but to the whole world also. But because of only one incident that happened in America in one day, and upon an unconfirmed accusations so far , Arabs and Muslims , including some who hold the American citizenship , are being harassed openly and publicly in America and some Western countries. Some western countries are preparing themselves to participate in an American military action, against an Islamic country as the indications point out. In this case , who is being fanatic ? Isn’t this solidarity , and this in- advance approval by some Western leaders , of a military aggression against an Islamic country , the most flagrant form of the new Crusades , fanaticism . It reminds Arabs and Muslims of those Crusade war launched by the West and NATO against Iraq? Finally, if you, rulers respect and cherish the blood of your peoples, why do you find it easy to shed the blood of others including the blood of Arabs and Muslims? If you respect your values, why don’t you respect the values of Arabs and Muslims? America needs wisdom, not power. It has used power, along with the West, to its extreme extent, only to find out latter that it doesn’t achieve what they wanted. Will the rulers of America try wisdom just for once so that their people can live in security and stability? “In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most merciful” Invite all to the way of thy Lord with the wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious, for the lord knoweth best who have strayed from His path and who receive guidance. Source: http://www.uruklink.net/iraq/emss17.htm Second open letter from Saddam Hussein to the peoples of the United States, Western peoples and governments In the name of God, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful. Once again, we make a return to comment on the incidence that took place in America on September 11, not for its significance as such, but for the implications surrounding it and its ramifications in terms of results on the level of the world of which we are part or rather a special case as a nation known as it is with the basis and uniqueness of its faith. On previous occasions, we have already said that the United States needs to try wisdom after it has tried force over the last fifty years or even more. We still see that this is the most important thing the world must advise the US about if there is anybody who wants to say something or adopt an attitude towards this incidence, and who is concerned about world peace and stability. This is the case if the US and the world are convinced with the dictum and the verdict, namely that what has happened came to America from without, not within. It is among the indisputables in the law or general norms, in dealings, in social life, and even political life, that any charge should be based on evidence if the one who makes the accusation is keen to convince others or has respect to that who listens to the accusation or is concerned with it as part of the minimal obligation of his duty. But the US has made the charge before verification, even before possessing the minimum evidence about such a charge. It has even not availed itself the opportunity to verify things, first and foremost. It started a drive of incitement and threat, or said something irresponsible by broadening the base of charges to include states, circles and individuals. American officials set about making charges or giving the guided media, the Zionist media and its symbols within the authority and outside it a free hand in order to prepare the public mind for the charge.. What does this mean? In a nutshell, it means that the US gives no heed to the law or rely on it. It has no concern for the counter viewpoint in line with its dangerous policy towards this issue or others. That is why we find that it takes no pain to secure evidence. Therefore, it needs no evidence to pass its verdict. It is content with saying something, passing verdicts, whether people other than the American officials are convinced or not. This means, in keeping with the policy it has pursued since 1990, that it has no regard to the viewpoint of the peoples and governments in the world in it entirety. It gives it no weight or heed despite the fact that it claims to be the democratic state (number one) in the world. The basic meaning of democracy even by the standards of its initial emergence in the Western world, that facts should lay bare before the people so that the people would assume their responsibility with full awareness. Our description of the US attitude vis-à-vis this incidence is a practical description. It means that American officials do not respect even their own people’s viewpoint, let alone the world’s. In this conduct, the American officials behave as though they are deluding the peoples, beating up the misleading media drums to do the job of mobilizing them against enemy or enemies against whom no evidence about their accountability for the action they are accused of has been furnished. All the officials there seek to achieve is to foment the hostility of the peoples of the US against whoever they assumed to be an enemy before the incidence has occurred. The tax-payer would be in a position where he is prepared to accept the blackmail trap arms manufacturers have laid for him in addition to the wrangled interests on the level of senior military and civil officials in the US. One might argue that political verdicts do not always emanate from the same bases, procedures or courses adopted by the judiciary or criminal courts. Rather, precedents and back- grounds could suffice to arrive at a conclusion which may prove right. Even if, for the sake of argument, we go along this notion, just to keep the debate uninterrupted, we say that this could be true about the media and statements which are of media and propaganda nature, even political statements. In this instance, the error could not be necessarily fatal. But is this permissible in war? Once more, we say that war is not an ordinary case. Neither is it procedural in the life of nations and peoples. It is a case of unavoidable exception. Evidence based on conclusion is not enough, even if it is solid to make a charge against a given party or several parties, a state or several states to the extent that the one who makes the charge declares war at the party or parties against which charges were made and bears the responsibility of whatever harm might be sustained by his own people and the others including death, the destruction of possessions and the ensuing serious repercussions. It was only the US administration that has made the charge against a certain religion, not just a given nationality. Let us also accept the interventions of those who contend that the US has not said this, through its senior officials and within this limitation. In fact, some officials have denied that their policy is one of making the charge against a given religion. However, we believe that the lack of evidence to make a charge, the disrespect to the golden sound rule of proper accusation which leads to the declaration of war and restricts the charge to a certain nation, states, designations and individuals, can only be understood as a premeditated charge without evidence that the action was carried out by Moslems. This is complemented by free reins for the media to float it, to prepare the public opinion to accept it or to be tuned to it so that anything opposed to it would sound like a discord. Below is the list: Afghanistan.. Usama bin Laden… the Islamic Qa’ida (base) party or organization… Syria.. Yemen… Algeria.. Iraq… Lebanon…Palestine. The list may be curtailed or enlarged according to the pretexts of the policy of power, which has found its opportunity or the power that is looking for its opportunity to declare war. Whether the items of the list are increased or cut down, would all this mean anything but the accusation of Moslems, including, or rather in the forefront of whom Arabs? Why should this cross the minds of US officials unless they have basically assumed themselves and their policy to be enemies of Arabs and Moslems? Could this charge mean anything other than the desire to settle old scores, all based on the assumption that their foreign policies are incompatible with the American policy, or they do not give in to the US-Zionist policy vis-à-vis the world and Palestine? Consider statements by the US officials who say the war would be long because it is aimed at several states. Notice the blackmail or better, the terrorism they mean and which was designed to include several states and parties on a list that could be longer or shorter in accordance with a policy of sheer terrorism and blackmail, first and foremost, the illusion that Arabs and Moslems and the people of Palestine would leave the arena for the aggression of the Zionist entity and its vile imperialism. These charges which were made without consideration and in an instantaneous way mean that the mentality of the US administration has been pre-loaded, prior to the incidence, even if we apply the norms of today and not the norms of the law. It has made assumption tantamount to conclusive verdict, namely that Islam, with Arabs in the lead of Moslems are enemies of the US. More precisely, the US on the level of its rulers has taken it as a final verdict that it is the enemy of Arabs and Moslems. In so doing, they have stored the final verdict in their minds. On this basis, they built their preparation in advance. On this basis too, they prepared (the mind) of the computer, which was programmed on this assumption, which has taken the form of a conclusive verdict. This reminds us of the free reins given to political writers, the so-called thinkers, inclupast heads of state and ministers who the Zionist policy wanted, over the last ten or fifteen years to assume that faith based on the religion of Islam with the ensuing implication is the new enemy of the US and the West and it is the backdrop against which American rulers act, with the participation of some Western rulers who came under the pressure and interpretations of Zionist thought and scheming. Obviously, this assumption is no longer a pure assumption for the purpose of scrutiny testing and examination. It has become part and parcel of conclusive verdicts. That is why the verdict was instantaneous, without consideration or waiting for the evidence to have a basis, evidence on which the pre-supposition is based in order to be a conclusive one. The charge has not only been made against all governments in Islamic or Arab states but also against all Islamic peoples, including the Arab nation and to all designations, parties, states and governments whose policies do not please the US, whose policies and positions are not palatable to the US in particular or because they call for the liberation of Palestine and a halt to the US aggression on Iraq, and adherence to their independence and their nations’ heritage. Any one who is surprised by this practical conclusion, allowing courteous words to be said on the margin of verdicts to replace it, has to contemplate our verdict: The US has declared it is at war. It is gearing up for war since the early moments in the wake of the incidence, as though it were the opportunity those concerned have been waiting for. It has allocated the necessary funds for the war, or part of them. Have you ever heard or read in the near on far history, of a state declaring war before even defining who its enemy is? The opportunity to declare the state of war came with the incidence that befell it. It is not yet known whether it was carried out by a foreign enemy or from inside. Thus, the war declared by America would cease to be a reason for the incidence. Rather, it is the incidence that has availed the opportunity to launch the war, which has not been a result of the incidence under any circumstances! One might contend it is the nature of the incidence, the scale of pain the American officials felt as a result of what their peoples suffered, the embarrassment they felt due to the sufferings that hit the people there, that prompted American rulers to rush to declare war. The suffering of the people is not caused by the incidence alone, but by the failure of the authorities concerned which have been preoccupied by hatching conspiracies abroad, assassination and sabotage operations against world states and freedom-loving people. They rushed to declare war and name the parties so that they would leave no option but to launch the war. Once again, we say, could this be a reason and ground to facilitate the charge and the subsequent resolutions, why should not it be a ground for others as well? If the fall in the whirlwind of rage, not the pre-meditated planning, results into war resolutions on their senior level inside the US, why should not you expect someone to direct his fire to it under the pressure of similar considerations or danger? Once again we say that the US administration and those in the West who allied themselves with it against Arabs and Moslems, now and in the past, or rather against the world, in all the arenas that witnessed the scourges of the alliance, are in need to take recourse to wisdom after they have had power at their disposal and deployed it to such an extent that it ceased to frighten those who experienced it. Dignity, the sovereignty of the homeland and the freedom of the sincere man is a sacred case, along with other sacred things which real Moslems uphold, including , Arabs who are in the lead. If this is the practical description of the pre- mediated intentions that decided war against Arabs and Moslems, while the party that took the decision waits for a cover to declare a war, and may launch it against those whom it has been biding time, could there be anyone who could avert it other than God, the Almighty? Anyone other than the will of the peoples, when they become fully aware, after they know and fear God, after they have believed in Him. “For us Allah sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs”. ( Holly Quran) Once again we say that the peoples do not believe any more the slogans of the United States, accept those whom it intends evil against. Even when it says it is against terrorism, the United States doesn’t apply this to the World, and according to the International Law. But according to its will to impose what it wants on the World and refuse what it thinks might be harmful to it only, and export the other kinds of it to the World. To certify this, could the United States tell its peoples how many organizations working against their own countries are existing in the United States? And how many of those, the term terrorism could be applied to if one standard is used and not the double standards? And how many are those it finances overtly and covertly? How many are those accused with killing and theft in other countries are now in the United States? If the United States presents such inventory to its peoples and to the World, and initiated implementing one standard and one norm on its agents and those it calls friends. And if it starts the same storm against the killers in the Zionist entity responsible of killing Palestinians in occupied Palestine and in Tunis and Lebanon. And if it charges its own secret services with what they committed of special actions and assassinations they brag to publish in the form of stories. Only then one can believe the new American slogans that America is trying to make them believe. Only then it becomes legitimate to ask the World to do what it believes is useful for its security and the security of the World. It is a chance to air an opinion whose time has come. It is also addressed to the peoples of the US and the Western people in general. Zionism has been planning for the domination of the world since its well-known conference it convened in Basle in 1897. Ever since, it has been working in this direction. It has scored successes you can feel by controlling finance, media and commerce centres in your countries and whoever rules in your name, here and there, in decision-making centres. But its domination is not yet fulfilled to have its will absolute and final. This could only be feasible when two heavenly faiths upheld by the biggest bloc in the world are thrown into conflict. Otherwise, Zionism would be denied the accomplishment of all its ambitions. The masterminds of Zionism are, therefore, working for a clash between Christianity and Islam on the assumption that this, and only this, could secure the chance to dominate the world, when new opportunities open up for their domination. Could there be any better situation than that when the stealing dog finds his household pre-occupied by a grief so that it could win the thing it has set its eye on, the thing that whetted its mouth? Would the sensible men in the West be aware of that? Or would Zionism outsmart them to attain its aims? --------------------------------------- -- More official Iraq information is available at http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/eindex.htm ----------------------------------------- Iran: excerpt of Khameini speech from http://www.wilayah.org Some issues have been brought up in the world today due to the influence of incidents, which have occurred in some cities in America. The wave of global propaganda and political moves continuously fan the flames of biased propaganda reports. A particular group controls the global media. The capitalists, and the rich and powerful controls these global newspapers, radios and television stations. They are not in the hands of ordinary people, or intellectual, pious or wise people. They disseminate whatever they like and whatever corresponds with their own interests. They divert them into the communication channels of radios, televisions, news agencies and newspapers, and spread them throughout the world and some groups, unaware of what they are doing, take up those reports. Unfortunately, some groups also help them while they do not benefit from what they are doing, but they help such waves of selfishness and arrogance. During the past two or three weeks and since the explosions in America turned into a global and international issues, our country's officials have taken some good positions and have made some good statements. At the same time, I would like to mention a few points in order to inform our dear nation, which, God be praised, is quite alert. The first point is that the behavior and remarks of the American government and its officials concerning this incident were very arrogant and self-conceited and continue to be so. Their declarations are just incompatible with any kind of logic. Of course, they have been profoundly embarrassed and the reputation of their security has been severely harmed, but these are not adequate reasons for putting on an arrogant image in order to compensate for their humiliation. They adopt a very angry attitude to tell the people of the world that: O' people of the world, we are angry and you do not dare say anything which would contradict what we are saying. No one should dare say anything different from what they are saying. They think that, through such methods, they can sideline independent peoples, nations and governments. An example of what they say is that whoever is not with us is with the terrorists. That is very wrong. No, this is not the case. Many are they on the side of America who are more dangerous than most of terrorists of the world. Today, the government of Israel is sheltering the most dangerous of terrorists. Those leading that government have personally ordered and taken part in the most tragic acts of terrorism. Right now they are committing acts of terrorism and they are also on the side of America. It is not correct that anyone who is with you is not with the terrorists. No, this is not the case. The most stubborn and evil of terrorists are on your side right now. The same applies to the opposite view: i.e. anyone who is not with us [America] is on the side of the terrorists. No, that is not right. Neither are we with you nor are we on the side of the terrorists. [People chant: Allahu Akbar, Khamenei is the leader, death to America, death to Israel...] Criticizing US treatment of Muslims The second point is that from the first few hours after the incident, they were making the general atmosphere of their country anti-Islamic. How could you determine in those first few hours that Muslims had conducted this act? If your information apparatus is so powerful that from the early hours - the radio and television in America were speaking in such a way that everyone believed that it was the work of Muslims - if you are so powerful in information gathering, then why hadn't you been able to detect this extensive operation which had definitely taken months and some even say years to plan? How did you come to know that it was the Muslims? They made the general atmosphere so anti Islamic that people in America and some European countries started to attack mosques and assaulted, shot and stabbed those Muslims who had an Islamic appearance. The American president in his first remarks said that this was a Crusade. The Crusades are the wars the Christians launched from Europe in order to capture Bayt al-Muqaddas [Jerusalem]. Those wars lasted for 200 years. At the end, however, the Christians and Europeans were defeated by the victorious Muslims who forced them out of the region. The Crusade means the battle between Islam and Christianity. Why should a senior official be so inconsiderate and unrestrained in his speech if he did not have any ill intentions? Why have they accused the Muslim world of committing such a terroristic and horrible act? First, they turn the public opinion against Islam and then, officially went on to tell the people not to attack Muslims. Can you do that? It is you who have created an atmosphere under which Muslims and Arabs stand condemned. You publish Arabic and Islamic names and pictures of people with Arabic attire in their dailies. Do they mean that there was no American or westerner or people with western names among those accused of committing this act? Did they all have Islamic names? Why have not they published those names? First, they create such an atmosphere, and then advise the people not to attack the Muslims and say that Muslims are good. Is such a thing possible? This is a very lawful and ugly behavior which will have long-lasting repercussions that will not be rectified easily or anytime soon. The third point is that concerning these issues, the Americans have made unrealistic demands. Now that they have come under attack, they expect the entire world to cooperate with them. Why? Because their interests have been endangered. Well, this is a very demanding attitude. Have you ever respected the interests of others so that you now expect everyone to respect yours? In today's world, does the possession of cannons, guns and missiles give permission for a government to say that, it has to be what I say and nothing else? Will the people of the world accept this? It is this attitude that have made America detestable. Look and see in which countries the people are burning the American flag today? Not all of these places are Iran. The conference recently held in South Africa [the Durban Conference] demonstrated the feelings of the people of the world, organizations and of different governments. With its bullying and extensive demands, America has made itself hated all over the world. If American interests in the Persian Gulf are threatened, it seems that everyone has to cooperate. But if the interests of the Persian Gulf countries are threatened it doesn't matter at all. Many times they have trampled on the interests of different countries including our country, but now they come saying that the whole world has to cooperate with them because their interests have come under attack. This is quite a great demand. On Israeli terrorist acts The next point is that in the minds of American officials the meaning of terrorism is wrong. They define terrorism incorrectly. They define terrorism in such a way that the massacre of the people of Sabra and Shatila - two Palestinian camps in Lebanon, in which men, women and children were all massacred one night in on the orders of a person who is at present the head of the usurper Zionist regime [Ariel Sharon] - is not terrorism. This does not constitute terrorism in the eyes of the Americans. A few years ago, some people gathered in front of the UN office in Qana, in Lebanon, to stage a protest. An Israeli airplane, or helicopter, came along and killed hundreds of them, men, women and children, the hungry and the thirsty. They sprayed them with bullets and killed them all. They do not consider that as terrorism. Many times the Israelis have kidnapped and killed people in Lebanon. This is not considered as terrorism. A few months ago the usurper government gave the approval that certain Palestinians should be assassinated. They even mentioned the term assassination. They said that they should be assassinated, and they assassinated them. They blew up their cars, they killed several people. All this is not considered as terrorism. Criticizing America But the people of Palestine, who have risen in the defense of their lands and to reclaim their violated rights, shouting with stones in their hands - not weapons - they are called terrorists. This is the logic of the Americans. Well, that is an incorrect logic. The world will not accept that logic. The next point is that, Americans say: We have no good and bad terrorists, that all terrorists are bad. But in practice they, themselves, divide terrorism into good and bad. In the skies of the Persian Gulf they shot down an Iranian airliner with hundreds of passengers onboard, without any reason or excuse; they blew up the airplane, tore the people into pieces and drowned them in the sea - a clear case of terrorism. But then they gave the commander of the warship a prize. Where can mankind take that grievance? Not only do they not put them on trial, not only do they not admonish them, not only do they not apologize to Iran, but they give a prize to the commander of the warship. That is good terrorism. [People chant: Death to America, several times] Their logic is wrong. Their intention is wrong and they expect the entire world to mobilize behind them for the sake of this wrong intention. Moreover, they expect the rest of the world to help them. That is, not only do they expect the world not to protest against them, but they want help from everyone too. On US intentions in Central Asia On the whole the evidence shows that today there is something else behind the scene in the issue of Afghanistan. In their anger they are facing hapless Afghanistan, which has no supporters, because one man - be it 10, 100 or 1,000 people inside that country - accused of being behind the explosions in New York and other places. But behind the scene, the issue is different. Firstly, evidence shows that the American government intends to repeat what it did in the Persian Gulf in this region, and Central Asia. They intend to come and establish themselves in this region under the pretext of a lack of security here. Evidences show that they intend to do so in Pakistan, the Subcontinent, in Central Asia and in Afghanistan, on the other side of our eastern borders. Secondly, they want to settle scores with anyone who defended the oppressed people of Palestine. This is what they are really pursuing, the rest are superficial matters. No help for US over Afghanistan The next point concern their statements in which they have demanded that Iran should help them. They have asked for various assistance, including intelligence information and other forms of help. I am surprised at the audacity they have to ask the Islamic Republic government and the Iranian nation to help them. Over the past 23 years after you have employed everything and all your might to inflict blows upon this nation and this country, now you expect us to help you? What help? Even if the nation of Afghanistan were not Muslims and oppressed and even if they were not our neighbor, your request for assistance would have been to the wrong party. Let alone the fact that the nation of Afghanistan is oppressed and deprived. Truly, one feels sorry for the people of Afghanistan. You the American government expect assistance from the Islamic Republic. No, we shall not offer any assistance to America and its allies in their attack on Afghanistan. [People chanting Allahu Akbar, Khamenei is our leader, death to America, death to Israel...] Doubting America's sincerity In the final analysis, we doubt the sincerity of the American government's intention to combat terrorism. It is insincere and does not tell the truth. It has other aims. We do not think that America is qualified to lead an international movement against terrorism. America's hands are soiled with all the crimes committed by the Zionist regime in recent years, which it is currently continuing with the utmost ruthlessness and violence. Destroying people's houses with tanks. This is what America supports. Such a government lacks the necessary qualifications to lead an international movement against terrorism. Everybody should know this, and our country's officials have also stated this in private gatherings and meetings. I also would like to repeat it for the benefit of our public and the world. Everybody should know that Iran, Islamic Iran, would not participate in any movement that is led by America. [People chanting Allahu Akbar, Khamenei is our leader, death to America, death to Israel...] The fight against terrorism is Jihad Of course the fight against terrorism and the fight against those who undermine the people's security is a necessary fight. It is obligatory. It is a Jihad. Anyone who can take part in this fight, must do so. But this is a global movement and therefore should have a moral leadership. Over the past few days our officials have declared that we are ready to help and join this movement under the auspices of the United Nations. Yes, let me say that the UN is good but there is one condition. And that is, the UN should not be influenced by America and other major powers. Otherwise, if the UN and its Security Council or other departments were to be influenced by them by the American administration and the other major powers, one would not be able to trust the UN either, and we do not have good experience in such matters in the past. Here, Islamic governments shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility. They must enter the arena as a global movement against terrorism, against the violation of the people's lives and against the violence that infringes upon the daily lives of citizens. They must enter the arena as a great humanitarian movement. This is a great obligation and the Organization of the Islamic Conference is duty-bound in this respect. We, as members of the OIC, believe that it is an essential obligation of this organization is to enter this arena. It must, however, be present in this arena independently. It must not be subservient to this or that power. On the other hand, the issue of the nation of Afghanistan is raised today. The nation of Afghanistan is a Muslim nation. It is part of the Islamic `ummah. On the plight of Afghans The innocent people of Afghanistan have committed no crime. Are the lives of those who died in the World Trade Center in New York more precious than those of the people of Afghanistan? Why? Is it because their collars are dirty? Is it because they have been deprived of hygiene, nourishment, peace of mind and security, all because of people who for many years were lackeys of the big powers? Is that the reason? Before the events in Afghanistan, the coup d'etat twenty odd years ago, those who were in power were lackeys of the big powers. Then the communists came into power; they were affiliated to the Soviet Union. And what happened then? The people know and can see. The interference of the powers has determined the fate of the Afghan people in recent years. These are the reasons for the poverty and backwardness of the people of Afghanistan. Otherwise the people of Afghanistan are freedom loving, with a very rich and ancient culture, they are brave, and very talented. We know the people of Afghanistan. We have lived together for centuries. We know that they are very talented people. They are not inferior to any other people in the world. And they have a lot stronger points. What crime have they committed that they should be the victims of various objectives and policies? The Organization of the Islamic Conference and Islamic governments has a duty here. They must act wisely and rationally and do not allow the Afghan people to be harmed. Even if a few terrorists - we cannot be certain of this of course, this being a claim by the Americans - have camps there. Well, Afghan people should not have to pay for sins committed by them. Why should they be trampled on? We ask God to bestow His Grace on Islam and the Muslims [People say Aamin]. We ask God to protect Islamic countries against their enemies [People say Aamin]. Gladly, our government and nation have been treading on its own correct path with patience, wisdom, calmness and steadfastness. Our government and nation will continue on this same correct and dignified road. May God bless this country and nation and keep them in the prayers of Hadhrat Baqiyatullah (AJ) [People chanting God is our protector and Khamenei is our leader]. Wassalmo Alleykom wa Rahmatollahe wa Barakatoh . ----------------------------------------- [The following is a description of Syrian reactions to the events of September 11th and Syria's election to the United Nations Security Council-- International Minister, MIM] Source: http://www.sana.org Press commentaries Damascus Oct. 10 SANA The Syrian dailies Al Baath and Tishrin on Wednesday dedicated their first page editorials to the election of Syria as member of the international security council for a two years period. Al Baath daily affirmed that “this victory reflects appreciation of Syria’s role on both the regional and international arenas. Al Baath said that the international unanimity “confirms the futility of Israel allegations and accusations against Syria”. The paper said that “Syria which has entered into the domain of the international policy from its largest gates would represent not only herself but would also defend any just cause. For its part Tishrin daily affirmed that Syria’s election as member of the international security council carries a particular importance especially in this critical stage whereas the tendentious parties ‘Israel in first place’ seek to deform the realities and to confound between the legitimate national resistance against occupation and the rejected terrorism against civilians. The paper said that Syria which “has never hesitated even one day in defending the peoples just causes or calling the thing by their names would represent at the security council the Arab group and all states of the Islamic world. “Syria would exert every effort for placing the intentional community before its responsibilities in defending its resolution and putting them into effect. Al Thawra daily on Wednesday affirmed that the British- American war against Afghanistan did not succeed in turning the world attention from what is going on in the occupied Arab territories. In its first page editorial the paper said that the Israelis “have attempted to exploit the events on Sept.11 in the U.S for covering their crimes and for going even further in their repression against the Palestinian people. “Its very important to intensify the Arab efforts in the direction of the Arab- Israeli conflict” the paper said. The paper called on the Arabs to unmask Israel and to expose its savage terrorism and to support the Palestinian Intifada. M.Malla __________________________________________________ Saudi Arabian view, posted October 11th Source: http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=9698 War against terror: A Saudi perspective By Jamal Khashoggi, Deputy Editor in Chief Americans want unconditional condemnation of the horrible attacks that happened in their skies and on their land. They also want total cooperation in their fight against terror according to their own definition of what terrorism is and exactly who the terrorists are. But Saudi Arabia will not give in to such demands. Saudis tend to link the ugliness of what happened in New York and Washington with what has happened and continues to happen in Palestine. It is time that the United States comes to understand the effect of its foreign policy and the consequences of that policy. But unfortunately such rationalization is still not part of the American reality. Now some circles in the US are trying to point fingers at Saudi Arabia either directly or indirectly. The prime suspect behind the crime was once a Saudi. Many of the alleged hijackers are said to have held Saudi passports. However, here in Saudi Arabia the government does not want the world to see Osama Bin Laden as a Saudi or even a dissident. To them he is simply a criminal, an outlaw, who has had nothing to do with Saudi Arabia since 1994. Bin Laden is the name on everyone’s lips the world over. People in lands far distant to Saudi Arabia gossip about a youth they met on vacation or studied with or trained with. Through reports in the media every possible detail of the man’s life has been examined, ad nauseam. It seems that everyone knew of him but no one knew him well. But for us in Saudi Arabia that is not the case. For us Osama Bin Laden is not just a name or a video clip. The people of the west coast city of Jeddah especially remember him as a boy at school, a colleague at work, or the neighbor down the block. They think of the soft-spoken young man that they met at a dinner party and who talked with enthusiasm in support of Islamic causes. Most people here in the Kingdom are unable to believe that the quiet, intelligent young man from a good family has now become the most wanted criminal in the world. Many in the West do not know that Osama Bin Laden was once a member of a prominent, decent Saudi family. It is that family which is now acutely aware of the damage that he has inflicted on the nation’s reputation in general and the family businesses in particular. This has made them feel very bitter and angry toward him and his actions. At social gatherings, the Binladens speak about Osama with a mixture of fury and disbelief. While Osama Bin Laden and his followers claim to have lofty ideals, they have forgotten that it is their leader’s own words which now point the way to damnation. In 1998, Osama Bin Laden issued a fatwa, or Islamic ruling, in which he stated that it was allowed to kill both American and British citizens as well as military personnel from those countries because of their support for the state of Israel. Such a fatwa is unprecedented. Muslims throughout their history never allowed the killing of civilians, even in the midst of wars such as the Crusades. There is no respected Islamic scholar here in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else in the Muslim world who would support such a fatwa. What is even more contradictory to Saudis is the realization that with Bin Laden’s religious upbringing he should know that only the most knowledgeable Islamic scholars have the right to issue fatwas. This applies to the most trivial matters as well those of greatest consequence. In Islam, the shedding of human blood is on a list with six other major sins. All religious rulings with reference to this list would be of the most serious nature . It seems that Bin Laden has become a revolutionary in a world of his own imagination. He would not hesitate to break any taboo. How did he come to create this fantasyland of terror? In part, it was through the bad influence of a radical Egyptian Islamic group called Al-Jihad. This group crossed many boundaries of conduct and decency, which had been agreed upon in the Islamic world. In particular, their willingness to use violence against a Muslim government and a Muslim leader came as a shock. The first Muslim leader victimized by them was Anwar Sadat, whom they assassinated in 1981. Such conduct is antithetical to Islam. All Muslim scholars have stated that it is prohibited to use violence against a Muslim leader and legitimate government even if that government is unjust. The act of removing such a leader would be at the discretion of Islamic scholars and local leaders based on principles of law. It could be said that all our reasoning and justifying are simply excuses to distance ourselves from the terror in the United States. Psychologists would probably believe that the entire Saudi community is in denial. This denial would be extended to include not just Osama Bin Laden, but the alleged hijackers as well. Here in Saudi Arabia, people are grasping at inaccuracies in the evidence presented by the FBI. In the early days of the investigation one of the accused Saudis was found to have been dead for a year before the attack. Another was arrested and then released. Five others were found to be alive and at home with their families. Even though the FBI has now revised the list of accused hijackers, the doubts have been cast and now conspiracy theories abound. I see this denial as a strong indicator of this country’s revulsion and horror in regards to the attacks of Sept. 11. No family in Saudi Arabia wants to believe that one of their sons could have been responsible for such acts. They see the crimes as completely against all the tenets of Islam. A Muslim cannot be happy with the suffering of others. Even if this suffering is that of Americans who neglected the suffering of Palestinians for half-a-century. The Saudis haven’t forgotten that only days before the terrible crimes in New York, there was an art exhibition on the streets of that city in support of what New Yorkers saw as the plight of the Israelis. We can’t understand why no one thought of depicting the plight of the Palestinians who are in actuality the occupied community. Despite our unhappiness with such actions of utter ignorance, Saudis have all expressed deep condemnation of the crimes committed on Sept. 11. This widespread condemnation did not make the Saudi public and the government officials agree to give America carte blanche which would have allowed it to use Saudi airbases and total Saudi support against the Muslims in the area just because the US is angry. True, America eventually gave assurances that it was only targeting the enemy, which had declared war upon it, specifically Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda and the Taleban. While these assurances were a relief to people, they did not inspire confidence. No one in the Middle East believes that the Israeli lobby in Washington has given up. Israel still has the Congress on its side, which always echo the Israeli position. This makes people in the Middle East mistrustful of the true agenda of the American government. Of course, the Israelis want America to fight their wars against the people of the Middle East who haven’t yet accepted Israel as an occupation force. And they would love to see American planes bombing countries such as Syria, Iran, Iraq and Libya. But if allowed to exploit the situation, the Israelis would not hesitate to widen the circle to include even the friends of the US in the area. It is obvious that the Saudi public feels that the United States has the right to pinpoint and arrest the perpetrators of the crimes on Sept. 11. America was attacked. It is suffering and has the right to know who carried out this cowardly action against its people and retaliate. But peace and security in the United States depends on so much more. Washington must start to look at the area with a just perspective. That is necessary to protect the interests of the American people because now the problems of the Middle East have become part of the internal problems of the United States. We can see an opportunity to change these painful events into a way to strengthen understanding between not only Saudi Arabia and the US, but the Muslim world in general and the United States and the West. Saudi Arabia is the land of the two holy mosques. It is a place right in the center of the geography and hearts of those in the Muslim world. It has been a leader in the area for many years, advocating moderation on both the Islamic and Arab fronts. We have to admit that there is a problem of fanaticism locally. But we are sure that officials are looking into this problem and plan to tackle it with a comprehensive solution that examines its roots while keeping in mind the Islamic foundation of the country. Saudi Arabia will continue to play a role throughout this crisis and after this crisis as a force of moderation for all the Muslims.