“The U.S. constantly changing the rules of the game,” Fedotov

MOSCOW, March 9 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The United States is inconsistent in its approach to Iraq and "constantly changing the rules of the game," a senior Russian official accused the U.S. Sunday, March 9.

"We are well informed about the U.S. position, we are cooperating with the United States and we are trying to understand what its motivation is, and also why it keeps changing the rules of the game," Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov as speaking on the NTV television.

Under last November's U.N. Security Council resolution 1441 ordering Iraq to disarm, "the main emphasis was laid on international inspectors' access to all of Iraq's facilities," Fedotov said.

Access was given, "but then we were told that this was not enough, that Iraq's cooperation was only formal, and that real disarmament must begin," he continued.

Now, with real disarmament underway, "Iraq is being told that this is not enough either and that ... the policy must be changed and proof given that Iraq is doing so with enthusiasm. How can enthusiasm be measured?" he said.

Fedotov further warned that U.S.-Russian relations would be affected if a war broke out in Iraq, and that time might be needed to repair the damage.

Confused And Incoherent

Add to that, The Independent branded Bush and Blair as “confused and incoherent,” wondering: “Is the objective to remove the weapons of mass destruction or to remove Saddam?”

“There is no consistency in the war aims,” it asserted.

It said the arguments for regime change in Iraq, while superficially compelling, are a recipe for international anarchy.

“There is a strong case for regime change in North Korea, several Arab states, Israel, Pakistan and China. What if another country decides there is a case for regime change in the U.K.?”

It said Bush and Blair are well determined to go to war without a second U.N. Security Council resolution and Blair has bluntly said that he will ignore an "unreasonable" veto.

“These statements mean that the current frenzied diplomacy at the U.N. is meaningless. The U.S. and U.K. will go to war whatever happens. The U.N. is being asked by the U.S. and U.K. to endorse war or jeopardise its authority as an international body,” it added.

“There is no boldness in standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's only superpower as it heads for war without a single credible cause. Mr. Blair, you could show genuine courage and accept that some progress is being made without war, without the slaughter of innocent Iraqis. If only he had the will it is Mr. Blair, not Saddam, who could stop the rush to war,” it concluded.