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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWikiLeaks: 'Chilling Cable from Iraq to UN Sec Council Immediately Before Powell UN Presentation'
http://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/03USUNNEWYORK298_a.html#efmAbaBbMUN/IRAQ: IRAQ SENDS LETTER PRE-EMPTIVELY TAKING ISSUE WITH THE SECRETARY'S FEBRUARY 5 PRESENTATION
Date:2003 February 6, 00:21 (Thursday) Canonical ID:03USUNNEWYORK298_a
Original Classification:UNCLASSIFIED Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions:-- Not Assigned -- Character Count:4562
Executive Order:-- Not Assigned -- Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:IZ - Iraq | PARM - Political Affairs--Arms Controls and Disarmament | PREL - Political Affairs--External Political Relations | UNSC - UN Security Council Concepts:-- Not Assigned --
Enclosure:-- Not Assigned -- Type:TE
Office Origin:-- N/A or Blank --
Office Action:-- N/A or Blank -- Archive Status:-- Not Assigned --
From:United Nations (New York) Markings:-- Not Assigned --
To:Central Intelligence Agency | Defense Intelligence Agency | Department of Defense | Department of State | Iraq Iraq Collective | Joint Chiefs of Staff | National Security Council | United Nations Security Council | White House
ISSUE WITH THE SECRETARY'S FEBRUARY 5 PRESENTATION
1. (U) IRAQI FM NAJI SABRI SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO
THE SECURITY COUNCIL (S/2003/132), CONCERNING THE U.S.
PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 5. THE FULL TEXT OF
THE LETTER FOLLOWS IN PARA 2.
2. (U) BEGIN TEXT.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS
CALLED FOR A MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON 5 FEBRUARY
2003 AT WHICH UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL
WILL PRESENT WHAT HAS BEEN DUBBED "EVIDENCE OF IRAQ'S
POSSESSION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION."
THIS PLAY-ACTING HAS BECOME TRANSPARENT AFTER THE SUBMISSION
BY THE UNITED STATES OF MORE THAN ONE REPORT FILLED WITH
ALLEGATIONS AND ACCUSATIONS DEVOID OF ANY EVIDENCE TO
SUBSTANTIATE THEM, SUCH AS THE REPORT ANNEXED TO THE SPEECH
OF UNITED STATES PRESIDENT BUSH BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2002, ENTITLED "A DECADE OF DECEPTION AND
DEFIANCE," AND THE REPORT OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
(CIA) OF OCTOBER 2002, ENTITLED "IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS." IN BOTH THOSE REPORTS, THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION ACCUSED IRAQ OF DEVELOPING WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION AT MORE THAN 50 SITES. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
TONY BLAIR HAS PLAYED A SUPPORTING ROLE IN THIS REGARD,
PUBLISHING A SIMILAR REPORT IN OCTOBER 2002 IN WHICH HE
CLAIMED THAT THERE EXISTED SPECIFIC SITES IN IRAQ AT WHICH
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WERE BEING DEVELOPED.
AFTER IRAQ ACCEPTED THE RETURN OF THE INSPECTORS ON 16
SEPTEMBER 2002 AND AGREED TO DEAL WITH SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 1441 (2002), THE UNITED NATIONS MONITORING,
VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION COMMISSION (UNMOVIC) AND THE
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) WERE REQUESTED TO
ACCORD PRIORITY, IN RESUMING INSPECTIONS, TO SITES ALLEGED BY
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TO BE DEVELOPING WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAMMES.
INSPECTION WORK BEGAN ON 27 NOVEMBER 2002. AFTER TWO MONTHS
OF INTENSIVE INSPECTIONS INVOLVING THE USE OF
STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT FOR DETECTING ANY PROSCRIBED
NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND THE ANALYSIS OF
WATER, SOIL AND AIR SAMPLES ALL OVER IRAQ DURING 518 TOURS OF
INSPECTION COMPRISING ALL THE SITES THAT WERE THE OBJECT OF
PRESIDENT BUSH'S AND PRIME MINISTER BLAIR'S ACCUSATIONS, AS
WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER SITES, INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS
IN IRAQI CITIES, THE REPORT OF MESSRS. BLIX AND ELBARADEI,
SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON 27 JANUARY 2003,
SUBSTANTIATED IRAQ'S DECLARATIONS AND CONSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED
THAT THE REPORTS OF PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRIME MINISTER BLAIR
WERE DEVOID OF TRUTH AND HAD BEEN DRAFTED IN ORDER TO DISTORT
THE PICTURE OF IRAQ AND CREATE PRETEXTS FOR AGGRESSION
AGAINST IRAQ AND AGAINST THE REGION AS A WHOLE.
PERHAPS THIS FACT EXPLAINS THE URGENT REQUESTS ADDRESSED TO
STATES BY MESSRS. BLIX AND ELBARADEI TO PROVIDE UNMOVIC AND
IAEA WITH VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE OF ANY PROSCRIBED ACTIVITIES,
SUBSTANCES OR MATERIALS IN IRAQ AND THE INSISTENCE OF STATES
MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT THOSE STATES WHICH ARE
ALLEGING THAT IRAQ IS DEVELOPING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
SUBMIT THEIR EVIDENCE TO UNMOVIC AND IAEA PURSUANT TO
PARAGRAPH 10 OF RESOLUTION 1441 (2002), WHICH READS,
"REQUESTS ALL MEMBER STATES TO GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO UNMOVIC
AND THE IAEA IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR MANDATES, INCLUDING BY
PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO PROHIBITED PROGRAMMES OR
OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR MANDATES ..."
ON THE BASIS OF THE ABOVE TEXT, CONTAINED IN THE SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION, WE REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, THROUGH YOU, TO SUBMIT IMMEDIATELY ITS ALLEGED
EVIDENCE TO THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ENTRUSTED BY THE UNITED
NATIONS WITH VERIFYING SUCH ALLEGATIONS, NAMELY UNMOVIC (IF
THEY RELATE TO PROSCRIBED ACTIVITIES IN THE CHEMICAL,
BIOLOGICAL OR MISSILE FIELDS) OR IAEA (IF THEY RELATE TO
PROSCRIBED ACTIVITIES IN THE NUCLEAR FIELD), SO AS TO ENABLE
THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS TO BEGIN THEIR INVESTIGATIONS
IMMEDIATELY AND INFORM THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH THOSE
ALLEGATIONS ARE CORRECT.
IN THIS CONNECTION, WE CAUTION AGAINST USING THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OR THE SECURITY COUNCIL AS FORUMS FOR SPREADING
FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND FABRICATED EVIDENCE IN OPEN DISREGARD
FOR THE MECHANISMS PRESCRIBED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)Last edited Wed Apr 10, 2013, 02:29 PM - Edit history (1)
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,852 posts)AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)He knew what he was doing.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)DhhD
(4,695 posts)City Lights
(25,171 posts)sigmasix
(794 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)But we (the world) all watch America brush aside the UN weapons inspectors to start Shock & Awe. The criminals are that dam brazen and reckless.
thecrow
(5,519 posts)the tables and tables at the UN covered in documents and files that Iraq presented during this time to document the destruction of WMDs after the Gulf War? I do, and I wondered why we rushed to war anyway. Bushco, IMO, was just too hasty to start the war. ("Saddam tryda kill mah Daddy"
Once the first missiles were launched, there was no going back.
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)The timing is prior to Powell giving the presentation to the UN. Blix and the inspectors were pleading for leads on types and locations for WMD since they had already explored all of the other earlier leads and come up empty. Bush, Cheney, Powell, etc. simply blew off the UN inspectors and made a presentation that they had to know wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Powell received this letter so that makes him particularly vulnerable here. Granted, this came from Iraq but the Security Council should have ask Blix if he concurred with the conclusion. Keep in mind too that when it came to a vote in the Security Council Bush could not get a majority for a UN war resolution, let alone be stopped by a veto from Russia or China. It may even explain why Bush couldn't get a majority vote for military action. Bush did not go back to Congress to get a fresh resolution for war, meaning the war Bush fought is not the war that Congress authorized (muscle to get the UN weapons inspectors on the ground with full access in Iraq).
tblue37
(65,502 posts)"evidence" he was supposed to base the speech on, Powell threw the pages into the air and all over the floor and snarled, "This is bullshit!" He certainly knew he was lying!
magellan
(13,257 posts)And only if you didn't bother looking too closely.
To this day there are those who defend him, who insist he was kept out of the loop by BushCo and didn't know otherwise. I think this pretty well lays that fairytale to rest.
Carolina
(6,960 posts)POS even before his theatrics at the UN. He was no more out of the loop than Bush I was on Iran-Contra (despite his protestations otherwise).
When Powell signed on the work with Bushco and was photographed walking with Shrub & Cheney before the election was decided, he knew exactly the ilk he was dealing with: thieves and liars. And you know what they say about birds of a feather...
He was not duped, he was complicit!
magellan
(13,257 posts)It's like those who say Bush** was nothing but Cheney's puppet. Balderdash! (Altho I'll admit, I thought Dimson was too stupid to plan lunch until I acquainted myself with his history: he's always been a master manipulator. Too bad for him he didn't also inherit his father's ability to turn on the charm like Jeb did. His mask slipped to reveal the vile creature he is, often.)
These mendacious monsters all knew the score. And you don't get to the position Powell had without being an insider and a team player.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)he and his Republican cronies demanded that the famous anti-war Picasso painting, Guernica, be shrouded and hidden from their view as they walked through the UN that day to deliver their deliberate Republican War Lies to the American people and all the human beings of planet earth.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/05/opinion/powell-without-picasso.html
magellan
(13,257 posts)But it's typical. Remember when Ashcroft had the Spirit of Justice statue covered with $8000 blue drapes? They telegraphed their intentions all the time.
Thanks for sharing that article.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)It was so shameful. There was outrage here on DU about it at the time...but as more atrocities and shocking information has been revealed it slipped out of my mind.
That's really important to show how craven and deceitful they were an are to this day.
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Read Section 3 of the U.S. Sedition Act of 1918 carefully:
"Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports, or false statements
kick
malaise
(269,219 posts)SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)to cause them grief or remorse.
haikugal
(6,476 posts)I am among them..it is treason and Obama is following suit by not bringing justice to the people. Instead he follows the fascist policies with more of the same all while calling it 'Hope and change'. I have to wonder when the books will be written detailing Americas corruption and how like Nazi Germany it really is.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)The UN Weapons Inspectors being in the country and finding nothing right up to the war, conducting months of on the ground inspections is the smoking gun. I've been saying that since two weeks before the war started.
Rex
(65,616 posts)saw it. Those that deny we entered into an illegal war based on lies and fake information already supported the war criminals long before they were in office.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)So they entrapped him.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Once it was started it would be damn near impossible to end it. They knew that and counted on it. It was all spelled out in PNAC.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/
Carolina
(6,960 posts)We knew it was kabuki and that the Bush cabal was full of liars. But let us not forget that there were Dems, prominent Dems, who went along with this charade.. who aided and abetted.
May they ALL pay in some way while here on Earth and then rot in hell for the death, destruction and even debt they have caused!
green for victory
(591 posts)PNAC war1
http://newamericancentury.org/balkans.htm
Not a popular topic in some circles
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)according to your link and articles in the link.
So I think your point is lacking
FourScore
(9,704 posts)After all...We're the good guys, riiiight?
Old and In the Way
(37,540 posts)Once they got the "all clear", then they invaded. Bully-Cowards are like that...
Javaman
(62,534 posts)cartoons to the UN as "proof".
They had zero nadda nothing and they knew it so they had to make it up from whole clothe to get their crimes against humanity sanctioned by the world body.
bastards, simply evil bastards.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Who could believe that presentation? His body language showed he didn't believe it himself.
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)When do the war crimes trials begin?
LiberalLovinLug
(14,178 posts)Waiting for the anti-Wiki Three Amigos to show up and repeat how insignificant, but dangerous Wikileaks is complete with ROFL smilies.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)The way things are going...I have no doubt that he is the main target and that both Assange and Manning will be made examples of that no one will forget. Wish that wasn't so...but they dared defy the MIC and they will pay the price.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)we finally get a government that is not in league with them? Like South America is doing now? I hope so, such horrific crimes should not go unpunished no matter how long it takes.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)a government like ours, that imprisons the brave people who risk their health and freedom in order to expose war criminals?
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)I think of the Iraqi citizens the day before "Shock and Awe", sitting in their homes knowing that hundreds of thousands of their friends and neighbors were about to be slaughtered, for absolutely no good reason, and that nothing could be done about it.
To me, anyone who needs evidence that there is no God need only look at the fact that George Bush is still walking around free.
Wednesdays
(17,450 posts)That there is a God, and Shrub is the antichrist.
Dryvinwhileblind
(153 posts)Projection of the Boooooosh legacy is so self explanatory.
newfie11
(8,159 posts)PatSeg
(47,649 posts)What the administration was doing at the time was so obvious, I thought I was in some alternate universe at times.
asjr
(10,479 posts)awaiting trial. If this government won't do it maybe some other will. We all have been thrown on the trash heap. I am too darn old to be recycled. Those self-serving idiots have ruined too many lives here and many military lives there in Iraq. Yet, Powell just sits in his house and makes an occasional remark that sounds like he has just learned about it. And Condaleeza Rice gets to be one of the first women to play in the Augusta National golf tournament--you know, the one who couldn't imagine a mushroom cloud. Bremer took money over there presumably to help Iraq and probably siphoned enough of it that he could retire. And the Republican puppets are still at work here.
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)Seems like a lot of people helped lie America into war -- in government, in media, and in business.
patrice
(47,992 posts)S.2205 -- Second Amendment Sovereignty Act of 2012 http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022193033
As the cable in OP shows, the United Nations CAN know the truth about what's going on. The NRA and the PRIVATE WAR PROFITEERS it protects don't like that objective perspective on how they prepare the ground, with assault weapons, for the drones that follow armed violence, while American Exceptionalist WAR MONGERS cultivate political potentials for the harvest of full blown war.
20score
(4,769 posts)I'm saving this one.