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Iraq
Arab States Say They Will Deal With Iraq
2003-08-12
EFL
Arab states will deal with the U.S.-appointed Governing Council in Iraq but not recognize it as a legitimate government, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Monday. Maher spoke at the end of a hastily convened meeting of foreign ministers of the "insignificant three in world terms" "big three" of the Arab world — Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria. The meeting was called after Israeli warplanes raided Lebanon Sunday following a bombardment by the Syrian-sponsored Hezbollah group that killed an Israeli teenager and wounded five other civilians. Maher declined to say how he and his colleagues decided to address the revival of fighting along the Israeli-Lebanese border, but said: "It is unimaginable that we meet here without discussing the Israeli provocations."
"It’s also unimaginable that we’ll do something about it — I mean, are you nuts? You see what them Jooooos are flying?"
Maher accused Israel on Monday of impeding the "road map" peace plan and described Israel’s construction of a fence around the Palestinian territories as a violation of the peace process. "It is clear that the Israelis are violating their obligations under the road map plan and creating conditions that make it difficult for the Palestinians to carry out their obligations," Maher told reporters after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud.
Not that the Paleos are going to carry out their obligations under any circumstances.
The foreign minister made clear Arabs would not be swayed by growing support for recognition of the Governing Council in Iraq. Since the Arab League refused to recognize the council early last week, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov have said the body should be recognized as a transitional government. "We cannot recognize this council because it scares the living daylights out of us is illegitimate, but we are ready to deal with its members as we deal with the rest of the Iraqi political forces," Maher said.
"Which means we’d prefer to shoot them on sight, but we can’t right now."
Egypt and Saudi Arabia, seen as moderates in the Arab world and nowhere else, gave logistical support to the United States in the Iraq war.
Posted by:Steve White

#3  What a load. Perhaps a quid pro quo is in order: withdraw recognition of all governments who do not practice democracy - and the joke "boutique democracy" of Bahrain, Kuwait, and the the media darling Morocco would be included, since they are all shams. And, of course, we don't give Foreign Aid to - or have "Special Relationships" with - unrecognzed mobs. Hmmm. Mobs... UN. Mobs. UN...
Posted by: ·com   2003-8-12 2:57:31 PM  

#2  No strongman dictator. No ligitimate goverment.
Posted by: Lucky   2003-8-12 12:18:30 PM  

#1  "Hey, Ahmed! Remember those billions of dollars in foreign aid that you used to get from the United States?"

"What do you mean, 'used to'... Oh."
Posted by: snellenr   2003-8-12 12:16:29 PM  

00:00