February 22, 1998

Real Reasons For U.S. Attack On Iraq Not Publicized

There is so much hooey regarding the threatened United States attack on Iraq it is little wonder that the “international town meeting” at Ohio State University drew continuous heckling.

Ostensibly, we are preparing to enforce U.S./U.N. inspection of eight “presidential palaces.” These are suspected sites for producing biological and chemical weapons contrary to the armistice ending the 1991 Gulf War.

President reminds us that war with Iraq is “in our national interest.” Yet, he does not spell it out -- probably because he senses that a majority of Americans would not approve. He should take heart, remembering that President Bush’s call for congressional support in the Gulf War fell short in the Democrat Senate by four votes.

There are three compelling, unpublicized reasons why we are out front with only token support from Britain and Australia:

• Oil.
• Israel.
• Russia.

Iraq sits on a huge pool of oil, second only to Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf area. Iran also is a major producer. Iraq and Iran have demonstrated that each wants to control all gulf oil.

They fought an eight-year war over the privilege of invading all other oil-rich neighbors -- hoping to gain the most lucrative monopoly ever known. Europe, Japan and the United States depend heavily on oil to fuel their economies.

Luckily for the industrialized nations -- and Saudi Arabia, the juiciest oil target -- Iraq and Iran -- gave up fighting each other but not their ambitions. Iraq tried to take over Kuwait. Iran focused on amassing military might to control the Hormuz Strait -- choke point for Persian Gulf oil tankers.

The struggle continues.

Clinton reminds us that Saddam has used chemical warfare against Iraq’s neighbors and must be prevented from doing so again. Unsaid, but at the top of the list, is Israel.

All Arab nations hate Israel and have twice attacked that country -- with disastrous results to themselves, one might add. Palestine Leader Yasser Arafat still refuses to renounce his long-stated goal of “driving Israel into the sea.”

During the Persian Gulf War -- which Israel had no part of -- Saddam lobbed Scud missiles into that country inflicting many casualties and great property damage. Only a strong, personal appeal by President George Bush persuaded the Israelis from retaliating and possibly widening the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares he will not again absorb an unprovoked Iraqi bombardment. At the first whiff of deadly nerve gas, or detection of anthrax germs, Netanyahu declares he will “take very, very strong action” to protect his citizens.

It is known that Israel has a hundred or more nuclear bombs and the capability of delivering them anywhere in the Mideast. More importantly, Israel has demonstrated its proclivity to first-strike prevention.

Back in 1981, the Israelis bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor under construction -- believing the purpose of the facility was to produce weapon-grade plutonium with which to destroy Israel.

Israel is a de-facto protectorate of the U.S. and the largest benefactor of our foreign aid. Undoubtedly, in a showdown, we would back Israel even at the price of losing access to Arab oil.

Best kept secret in the present go-round, until now, is the role of Russia. In a copyrighted story last week, the Washington Post reported the U.N. inspection team had discovered a Russian invoice for millions of dollars worth of germ-fermentation equipment.

It was a demand by the inspectors to see that equipment which prompted Saddam on November 2 to refuse U.N. inspection of 50 “palaces.”

Iraq has avoided detection of chemical and biological weapons by a frantic cat-and-mouse game. U.S. satellite photographs show equipment going out back doors of factories while U.N. inspectors are stalled in front lobbies.

The satellite pictures also identify eight palaces receiving the transported equipment. It is certain these sites would be the first targets of U.S. air strikes.

Russia denies perfidy. Nonetheless, its desperation for cash encourages don’t-ask deals. Boris Yeltsin also wants sanctions against Iraq lifted so that country can pay back $18 billion advanced for the war against Iran.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is in Iraq today trying diplomacy one last time. One is reminded of Gen. Charles DeGaulle’s observation: “Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains, they drown in every drop.”

We can only hope that Annan’s face-saving proposition of an inspection by U.N. Security Council members of the eight, suspected palaces will mollify Saddam. It should because he has had more than four months to move weapons somewhere else.

Clinton -- having drawn a line in the sand -- now must back up his ultimatum for full disclosure. Wimping out now would destroy our credibility as a world power.

PARTING SHOTS

Hillary Clinton says everyone should “take a deep breath” and wait until the various charges against her husband are resolved by the courts. Sorry. We don’t inhale.

* * *

During White House swearing-in ceremonies for Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, First Dog Buddy slipped his leash. He decorated the lawn with a personal memento then streaked for the front gate. Donna Shalala, secretary of Health and Human Services, ran and caught the pooch. Now we have a cabinet-level dog catcher.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers