تـابع

Statement by the Iraqi Revolution Command Council on 15 February I9991 ¹

        Honorable Arabs, true Muslim believers, freedom-loving people around the world: Ever since the United States, Zionism and the United States' imperialist Western allies came to realize that an Arab Muslim country - Iraq - was developing a force of its own, capable of being a counterweight to the imperialist-backed Zionism - free, honorable force, resolved selflessly to tackle Zionist aggression and greed, and to reject imperialist hegemony over the region, the United States, Zionism and all colonial powers who entertained hatred against Arabs and Muslims - {ever since then, they} set about taking measures, making decisions and waging campaigns of falsehood and incitement against Iraq, with the object of thwarting the creation and development of this force, and isolating and punishing Iraq, because it has faithfully, determinedly and efficiently gone beyond the limits set by the United States, imperialism and imperialist forces, for the states of the region.

        1988 and 1989 saw sustained campaigns in the press and other media and by officials in the USA and other imperialist nations to pave the way for the fulfillment of vicious aims. 1990 saw these campaigns escalate feverishly and mount day by day. The aim was clear to us and to all conscious Arabs and true Muslims, as well as to all the free people who believe in freedom and justice in the world. The aim was to pave the way for destroying this nascent force and tip the regional balance back in favor of the USA, Zionism and the imperialists - the balance that has been in place for many decades and prevented the Arabs from recovering their rights and usurped and occupied lands in Palestine, the Golan Heights and Lebanon. It has also stood in the way of the Arab nation realizing its aspirations for revival, progress and justice in the interest of occupying its deserved place in the world by virtue of its glorious history and its great contribution to human civilization.

        In the early months of 1990, these campaigns intensified, expanded and assumed a hysterical dimension, with daily incitements to hit Iraq, liquidate its leadership and deprive it of the means to achieve a revival and progress. Along with other imperialist nations, the USA took a string of measures and made unfair decisions banning the export of whatever may contribute to Iraq's development and its scientific and industrial revival. These decisions called for an effective economic blockade, including the cancellation of food contracts in March 1990. It was also clear that in concert with the Zionist entity, the USA was preparing to hit Iraq's scientific and industrial facilities and liquidate its patriotic, believing leadership. When the USA discovered that its plan, which largely rests on the Zionist military capability, fell short of achieving its civil aims, it brought into the conspiracy its hireling, corrupt agent and conspiratorial rulers in the region - the enemies of God. The role, of these was to undermine Iraq's economy and then push Iraq to the brink of economic collapse.

1 A. G. Noorani, The Gulf Wars, Documents and Analysis, Konark Publishers PVT LTD, Delhi, 1991, pp. 302-308.  

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