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Current Events » in reply to Iraq Rejects U.N. Draft Resolution

From CNN, it is clear Iraa is just dancing this around.

They will fold and try to foot drag just enough to foil the inspection, while protesting loudly they are in compliance.
Plus, this week I bet a lot of technical guys are going to be having lead poisoning:

CNN:
"Monday, November 11, 2002 Posted: 2:22 PM EST (1922 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraq parliament has been expressing its anger on the U.N. resolution which threatens possible military action if Iraq does not disarm.

Iraq has until Friday to accept the terms of the U.S.-promoted Security Council resolution demanding Baghdad allow U.N. arms inspectors unhindered access to any site suspected of producing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or face "serious consequences."

Washington has been adding to the pressure on Iraq with senior Bush administration officials warning the U.S. would be ready to take unilateral military action should Iraq violate the resolution. (Full story)

CNN's Jane Arraf says there was heavy criticism of the U.N. resolution from the 250 lawmakers, and the session was expected to continue for some time, possibly into Tuesday.

They said the inspections order was unworkable, it imposed "impossible demands" on Iraq, and that it was mostly a plan to launch a U.S. strike on Iraq.

She said the second speaker, head of the international relations committee, Salim al-Kubaisi, said his committee would recommend rejection of the resolution.

"The committee recommends the following: the rejection of the Security Council resolution 1441 and not to approve it in accordance with the opinion of our people who put confidence in their representatives," al-Kubaisi told parliament.

He also recommended the parliament refer the final decision to the Revolutionary Command Council, the cabinet led by President Saddam Hussein, "to take the appropriate decision to defend the people of Iraq, their independence and dignity."

Arraf said that instead of recommending acceptance of the U.N. resolution as had been expected, it was possible that parliament might reject it while asking Saddam's command council to make a final decision -- likely to be a reluctant acceptance.

Earlier Iraq's parliamentary speaker Saadoun Hammadi, while critical, stopped short of outright rejection.

"This U.N. resolution looks for a pretext (for war) and not for a comprehensive solution. It seeks to create crises rather than cooperation and paves the way for aggression rather than for peace," he said.

"This resolution violates international law and the sovereignty of this country. It shows blatantly the ill intentions of the U.S. administration," he added.

Arraf says it would still be a major event if Iraq said "yes" to giving unfettered access to U.N. arms inspectors after years of playing cat-and-mouse with them.

Meanwhile, Arab League leaders, while hinting at Saddam's readiness to accept the order, warned they would consider any strike against Iraq to be a threat to all Arabs' national security.

Arab League ministers issued an eight-point joint statement on Sunday welcoming the U.N. resolution, but warning that any strike against Baghdad would be considered a threat to the security of all Arab nations.

Saddam has until Friday to accept the U.N. resolution

The statement called on Security Council members to stick to a commitment given to Syria that the resolution would not be used as a pretext for war.

But in Washington, those close to President George W. Bush insist the U.S. does not need U.N. approval for an attack if Iraq does not comply with the terms of the resolution.

Secretary of State Colin Powell told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that if the council is unable to agree on a second resolution authorising the use of force, the United States would not be restrained in its response.

"I can assure you that, if he doesn't comply this time, we'll ask the U.N. to give authorisation for all necessary means, and if the U.N. is not willing to do that, the United States, with like-minded nations, will go and disarm him forcefully," Powell said.

White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," added: "The U.N. can meet and discuss, but we don't need their permission" before taking military action."

CNN Correspondents Jane Arraf, Rym Brahimi and Journalist Sandy Petrykowski contributed to this report.

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