American policy towards Iraq has failed and Baghdad has succeeded in rebuilding its infrastructure damaged in the 1991 Gulf War, stated the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
The United States "is starting to recognize its defeat because it wants, in fact, to finish off not only the economy but also the spirit of endurance of the Iraqis" by maintaining the embargo slapped on Baghdad for invading Kuwait in 1990, Saddam told the local press Sunday.
Saddam, who was speaking during a reception of navy officers and experts from the military industrialization authority, added that the US "wanted to destroy this spirit, but it has failed."
"All that has been destroyed has been rebuilt with our own means," he said.
This was recognized in the "leading American and British media," Saddam claimed, referring to articles which, according to him, put the standard of living in Iraq higher than that in Egypt.
The official media also blasted the European tour of US President George W. Bush "who is seen by the people of the world as a disciple of war and a war criminal," said Ath-Thawra. For its part, Al-Jumhuriya newspaper wrote that public discontent in Europe over Bush's policies on trade, the environment and the Middle East were "witness to what the American administration of evil has achieved and to its international isolation."
Meanwhile, another newspaper, Babel, owned by Saddam's eldest son, Uday said the "(US) administration will see more isolation and rejection of its selfish colonialist plans, which it wants to impose in defiance of international law and at the expense of legitimate national interests of other countries." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
