|
Former
Iraqi Minister of Information, Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf, told Abu
Dhabi TV that US Senators maintained communication with Iraqi
officials between 1991 and 1997, and delivered a set of
‘requirements’ that the Clinton administration hoped would
help Iraq return to the international fold.
He
also reiterated that Iraq has not possessed a Weapons of Mass
Destruction program since 1991.
“We
had such programs, but as of 1991 they were grounded zero,” he
said.
In
a highly publicized and hyped exclusive multi-part interview
(including previously unavailable footage of Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein) with Abu Dhabi TV yesterday, Al Sahaf described
the explicit steps taken by the American side to ensure that the
meetings were kept out of the press.
“Our
first meeting was in a small diner outside New York,” he said.
“It
was very low-key and the US Senator did not enter through the
main entrance, but used a back door through the kitchen. We
tried to make the Americans as comfortable as possible and
therefore sent a low-level ministerial delegation,” he added.
Al-Sahaf
said that the US Senators had urged Iraq to transform its
political structures, declare a moratorium on weapons of mass
destruction, and recognize and establish ties with Israel.
Al-Sahaf,
who was Foreign Minister at the time, said the last meeting
occurred in a European capital in 1997. US companies later
started sending their commercial representatives who consulted
with Iraqi officials on behalf of the US government.
Al-Sahaf
also revealed the deep level of resentment between Saddam
Hussein and his eldest son, Uday, who was killed by US forces
last July.
Al-Sahaf
hinted that Uday may have been behind his ouster from the
foreign ministry in 1997, and touched upon Uday’s meddling
domestic and external affairs.
“Many
ministers and ministries used to complain to the President about
Uday, and the President would take disciplinary action,” Al-Sahaf
said.
In
2000, Al-Sahaf claims, the Iraqi government began to sense a
more belligerent attitude from the US administration. Iraq
tried, though Tunisia and Jordan as third-party intermediaries,
to appeal to the US to avoid a military clash.
“We
tried to get countries with strong ties to the US to convince
them to talk to us,” he said.
When
asked about Saddam Hussein’s response to an Arab call for his
resignation, Al-Sahaf said his former leader was shocked by the
Arab position. While the Arabs believed the stepping down of
Saddam Hussein would avert an invasion, the Iraqis believed
nothing could slow an American onslaught, he said.
Abu
Dhabi TV aired exclusive footage of Saddam Hussein calling the
Arabs traitors, foreign agents and conspirators against Iraq.
Firas
Al-Atraqchi is a Canadian journalist of Iraqi heritage.
Holding an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has
eleven years of experience covering Middle East issues, oil and
gas markets, and the telecom industry. You can reach him at firascape@hotmail.com
|
