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Arab states may ask Sammy to stand down
Arab governments keen to avert another Gulf war will try to convince Saddam Hussein to step down if a US-led military campaign becomes imminent. Saudi Arabia is already pressing Washington to allow the Arabs a last opportunity for a diplomatic breakthrough if Iraq is found in violation of its disarmament obligations after the January 27 report to the Security Council by UN inspectors. Prince Saud al-Feisal, the Saudi foreign minister, said last week that the kingdom had not asked Mr Hussein to step down. But he also said that if war becomes imminent, "we hope that there would be an opportunity given to the Arab countries to mitigate the situation".Maybe they should do that now, get it out of the way? "One of the proposals on the table is that, after the UN report, a decision on war should not be hasty but that Arabs should be given another chance to look at the situation," said an Arab official. "One option is for [Mr Hussein] to depart. He's not thinking about it now, but it could be different when the Americans are serious about the alternative of war." Why aren't they looking at the situation now? Because it's ugly? Don't they believe the Americans are serious about the alternative of war? The US and Britain hope that as the pressure builds on Mr Hussein in the run-up to possible war, a military general or other regime insider would depose the Iraqi leader. Former Iraqi officials say that although Mr Hussein has until now been "coup proof", the country's military will be encouraged to risk pushing him out should war become inevitable. Arab officials cautioned that it remained too early to press Mr Hussein to relinquish power; inspections are proceeding smoothly and the Iraqi leader still believes he can buy time and save his regime. Hmmm... Second time in five days this idea's floated to the surface. I think the idea of Sammy stepping down is what Bush is really pushing for — achieving the objectives of a war without the blood and the stink. Maybe someone will bang Sammy and Uday and Qusay, but without that happening — I sure hope Bush isn't bluffing with all these troop buildups. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-02 |
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