Iraqis begin the new year with the decade-old air embargo against the country crumbling and some signs of support for their cause around the world. But most doubt the crippling economic embargo will change, and they pin the blame squarely on Washington.
"Like father, like son," summed up Sami Borhan, a 48-year-old business manager.
Borhan said he held little hope in the administration of US President-elect George W. Bush.
"His policies will only be a prolongation of the policies of his father," he said.
The elder George Bush was president when a US-led international coalition booted Iraqi troops out of Kuwait in 1991. Iraq has been under UN sanctions since the 1990 invasion, as international observers call for Baghdad to comply with inspections on its weapons-building capability.
Businessman Irfan Said is convinced the situation in Iraq "could even grow worse under the Republicans.”
He pointed to signals from Bush's nominee for secretary of state, Colin Powell, who headed the US military during the Gulf War.
On December 16, the very day he was named, Powell declared that regarding Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein "we are in the strong position, he is in the weak position."
“Saddam Hussein is sitting on a failed regime that is not going to be around in a few years' time. The world is going to leave him behind, and that regime behind, as the world marches to new drummers, drummers of democracy and the free enterprise system," Powell said.
In the words of the Iraqi weekly Alif Ba, "there is no sign of a potential change in American policy toward Iraq.
"A change at the top of the American administration does not change the nature of Washington's policy. All American officials still wallow in the Zionist filth," said the newspaper, which like all publications here reflects the official viewpoint.
But the Iraqi daily Al-Qadisiya was more optimistic, saying the Iraqis "are more determined than ever to go forward, whatever the difficulties and the hindrances. They welcome the new year with great optimism and determination to break the embargo.”
It pointed out that nearly 100 airplanes have landed in Baghdad since August, in defiance of the strict US and British interpretation of the international air embargo. It also said that several business and diplomatic delegations had paid visits to Baghdad.
One western diplomat also believed change could be possible in the next year.
"The new year could bring something new for Iraqis, even if the embargo remains," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
The diplomat based the optimism on renewed dialogue between Iraq and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
"That could be a sign for a relaxation of the embargo," the westerner said.
Abdelbaki as-Saadun, a regional official of Saddam's Baath party, said recently in Russia that relations between the United Nations and Iraq could resume on a clean slate. His view was received warmly in Moscow, Iraq's old patron, with the foreign ministry saying Iraq was ready for a dialogue with the UN.
But Iraq, despite time and again proclaiming itself to be acting in accordance with UN resolutions on disarmament, and has refused all cooperation with the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission -- BAGHDAD (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
