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| Kathmandu, Friday February 28, 2003 Falgun 16, 2059. |
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War divides
As the United States faces anti-war protests
worldwide, its own allies have told the Bush regime that war over Iraq would go against
the spirit of global fight against terrorism. By far, the strongest anti-war posture has
been made public by France, a NATO ally which also wields veto power in the 15-member
Security Council. In a veiled warning to the US, French President Jacques Chirac has gone
to the extent of asking the US-British-Spanish axis not to move a fresh resolution on Iraq
seeking an endorsement of war.
Resolution 1441 of the Security Council and its
spirit are enough to secure unhindered search of the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
It was in the interest of President Saddam Hussein as well as the world community that the
fullest cooperation was extended to the UN team by the Iraqi regime. The team has found
the Iraqi regime more positive and cooperative than what was anticipated, but the world
community wants Saddam Hussein to ensure that no iota of doubts remains on the issue of
presence of such weapons. It should also ensure that the banned Al-Samound missiles should
be destroyed as asked by the UN inspectors team.
Iraq should not be seen lacking at the moment.
The only way to do that is by giving all information and cooperation sought by the UN
team. A lack of cooperation by Iraq would especially go against the spirit of the
countries like France, Germany, China and Russia on the one hand, and amount to
disrespecting the world opinion that is visible everywhere in the name of ‘peace’
or anti-war demonstrations. The demonstrations staged in London, Melbourne or New Delhi
against the war, or the 50 thousand lamps burnt at the Boudhha stupa in Kathmandu for
peace were a reflection of the same humane thinking. War leads to war and the strike on
Iraq ignoring the world opinion would not be the end of it. The anti-war campaign has got
a further boost with the resolution of the NAM summit held in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Mahathir, who has taken over the
NAM leadership, was loud in his anti-war advocacy and warned the US that it should not be
seen carrying the war on the Islamic countries in the name of ‘terrorism’. It is
the real test for President Bush as well, and he as well as the US will be judged by how
much respect they would show to the world opinion. But it would be difficult for the Bush
regime to altogether ignore what the long-term military and strategic allies of the US
have been saying. President Chirac was only right when he said a war would divide the
international community which also means that a war will isolate the US and those
advocating it. |
