Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan decried the lack of Arab action in supporting Iraq, hinting that the Arabs should instead impose an oil embargo on the United States and Britain. "Why don't they stop the flow of oil to the countries of aggression?" he said.
Ramadan, at a news conference on Tuesday, criticized the Arab foreign ministers' decisions at a meeting of the 22-member Arab League Monday. He lashed out at Arab foreign ministers, saying their call for an "immediate and unconditional withdrawal" of US-led troops attacking Iraq did not go far enough.
"Condemnation is insufficient," Ramadan said, in the face of an attack he said targetted the whole Arab nation.
He urged Arab people "to step up the demonstrations." "The Arabs are not Swedes, they should up the tempo," he said. "We know the Arab people are aware of what their duty and role is."
He said Iraqis "are steadfast and will defeat the Americans and the British and those allied to them. But we want from them (Arabs) a minimum honorable position before the battle ends with victory, God willing."
Ramadan said American lives were being lost in vain. "An American soldier is killed or taken prisoner. for what? Is it really for the sake of the American people, for the sake of defending the land of America and its independence?" he asked.
"Is Iraq threatening America from thousands of miles away? Bush's talk can only bring ridicule in the world."
Ramadan criticized Jordan and said it was Amman which halted the import of Iraqi oil and it was not Iraq's decision. He also criticized Saudi Arabia, without naming it, saying "they are making up by pumping additional oil in the world so that the world will not be concerned."
He also accused some Arab intelligence services of giving information about Iraqi sites that were recently targeted and even providing scouts to guide the attacks.
Ramadan described U.S. and British leaders as "liars" for saying that coalition troops were closing in on Baghdad. "On the sixth day, they have not entered any Iraqi village." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
