IRAQ: IRAQI'S BLAME UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY FOR LAST YEARS SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS ON WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK

Record ID: 338092

  • Title: IRAQ: IRAQI'S BLAME UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY FOR LAST YEARS SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS ON WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK
  • Date: 10th September 2002
  • Summary: (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 11, 2002)(REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS: NEWSPAPERS AND PEOPLE STANDING AROUND NEWSPAPER STAND; SCU HEADLINE READING "SEPT. 11 IS PUNISHMENT OF GOD." (7 SHOTS) 0.30 (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 10, 2002)(REUTERS) 2. SLV: ROUNDTABLE BETWEEN A TURKISH DELEGATION CURRENTLY VISITING IRAQ AND IRAQI OIL MINISTER AMIR MOHAMM
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVABLYDYRK8IUPPVT0N6Q45MMPUH
  • Story Text: Had it not been for the America's "hostile" foreign policy,
    the Sept. 11 attacks would not have happened, Iraqis
    say.


    Iraqis are blaming America's foreign policy for the the Sept. 11
    attacks America's foreign policy.

    Iraq poured scorn on the United States on Wednesday
    (September 11), saying it was using last year's attacks as a
    pretext to try to crush its old foe in the Middle East.

    Front-page editorials condemned U.S. President George W.

    Bush for being "arrogant and imperialist", wanting to rule the
    world by force.

    The weekly al-Iqtasadi (Economist) magazine hailed the
    attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and on the
    Pentagon in Washington as the "punishment of God".

    The day before, Iraq's Oil Minister Amir Muhammed Rasheed
    said Washington was manipulating events to harm Iraq's economy
    by enforcing new procedures that cut oil exports under the
    U.N.-monitored oil-for-food deal.

    He was referring to retroactive oil pricing, under which
    prices are set well after the time of exports. The practice,
    initiated by the United States and Britain, aims to eliminate
    Iraq's ability to collect alleged illicit kickbacks from
    buyers.

    Rasheed underlined how he felt about U.S. policy while
    meeting a Turkish delegation.

    "My mention of Sept. 11 events was to show that how the
    American Administration exploits every opportunity to harm the
    Iraqi people and find innovative ways to inflict damage on our
    economy," Rasheed said.

    Iraqis say America will face more grave consequences if it
    ill continue with such policy, calling upon it to adopt a
    reasonable policy towards nations.

    "We see now United States isolated, its political
    credibility has eroded now. Is this for the interest of the
    American people ? The answer is definitely No, it is against
    the interests of the American people themselves," Rasheed
    said.

    Iraqis who have been groaning under stringent sanctions
    since 1991 Gulf War, feel sorry for the killing of innocent
    people in Sept. 11 attacks, although America is hinting of
    launching an attack on their country.

    Several members of the Iraqi parliament offered their
    views on U.S. policies on the day the world remember the
    attacks.

    "Had it not been for the America's "hostile" foreign
    policy against people, this (the Sept. 11 attacks) would not
    have happened, and nobody would have harmed America, but
    America caused harm to many world states and peoples of the
    world and hinted to launch aggressions on these peoples, so
    these peoples will revenge with all available means," Khalid
    Ad-douri said.

    "As a man , I feel sorry at the events of Sept. 11. I
    think each one has a conscience does not get pleased with such
    calamity and I think no body gets pleased with harming
    others," Abdul-Malik al-Yassen said.

    Iraqi MP Abdul-Aziz Ismaeel is hoping that the." U.S.A
    gets a lesson to be fair and friendly to other people."
    Washington says there is no hard evidence linking Iraq to
    the attacks but, with al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden elusive
    and perhaps dead, deposing President Saddam Hussein has become
    the main focus of Bush's war on terror.

    Bush is debating with U.S. allies an attack on Iraq, which
    he has branded part of an "axis of evil" with Iran and North
    Korea, to topple Saddam, whom Washington accuses of sponsoring
    terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction.

    Bush will take his case against Saddam to the United
    Nations which he addresses on Thursday (September 12).

    Iraq has denied any link with the September 11 attacks or
    with bin Laden's al Qaeda group whom Washington accused of
    carrying them.


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