|
'About that immunity offer... We've changed our minds...'
The United States has apparently withdrawn its offer of immunity for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his aides in exchange for their voluntary exile. Arab diplomatic sources said senior Bush administration officials refused to relay guarantees that Saddam, his sons and aides would be granted immunity from war crimes prosecution if they enter exile. The sources said the proposed deal has been promoted by Saudi Arabia and Turkey and discussed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal during his meeting with U.S. President George Bush last week. "The White House is feeling more confident these days and the immunity idea appeared to have been a sop to deflect Arab and Islamic opposition to an invasion of Iraq," a diplomatic source said. "Now, the administration feels it has enough military and political support so it doesn't have to make any promises.""Lookee here, Sammy: You're gonna get one chance at this, and only one chance. Go now, and nobody puts your head on a plate. But y'gotta act now." "Uh... Lemme think about it..." "He doesn't listen well, does he, Marvin?" The source said the turning point was a U.S. assessment that both France and Russia were reducing or ending their opposition to a war against Iraq. Moscow and Paris had been regarded as leading European Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-02-05 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=9918 |