Gathering storm

Most of the world wants the Iraqi crisis to be resolved peacefully. The United States, or more precisely, the George W Bush administration, wants war. As splits deepened at the United Nations even Washington's closest allies appeared to be having second thoughts, or so US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld assumed when he announced that the US would go it alone if it had to, with or without UN consent.

Washington is in no mood for a diplomatic compromise and American patience with the UN appears to be running out. Ominously, US Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissed Baghdad's disarmament efforts as nothing more than a "catalogue" of "non-cooperation". Washington does not even want to consider the modified British proposal allowing Iraq some additional time to fully comply with UN Security Council requirements before punitive strikes begin.

The French have emerged as the most vocal and relentless critics of US policy on Iraq. "No matter what the circumstances, we will vote no," stressed President Chirac.

"Why choose division when our unity and our resolve are leading Iraq to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction?" asked the French foreign minister.

France is not alone in its opposition to the use of force against Iraq. Russia and China, two other Security Council members that, like France, have a veto, want a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis. The Russian, Chinese and German anti-war stance must be commended alongside that of France.

The Arab League summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in Qatar, and the Non- Aligned Movement summit in Kuala Lumpur all reiterated their abhorrence of war.

Washington is fighting an uphill battle at the UN to impose its will. The world expects it to give peace more of a chance.

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 13 - 19 March 2003 (Issue No. 629)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/629/ed.htm