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Pastimes : GET THE U.S. OUT of The U.N NOW! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (379)	4/13/2003 1:57:06 PM
From: Tadsamillionaire	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 411

France and Russia campaign for mass abstentions at United Nations By Robin Gedye, Foreign Affairs Writer, and Ben Aris in Moscow (Filed: 12/03/2003) Despite French and Russian undertakings to veto any United Nations resolution authorising war against Iraq, it appeared yesterday that they are actually counting on not having to vote at all by leading a mass abstention. The complex web of cajolery, blackmail and bribes that French politicians and officials have sought to construct around the Security Council "waverers" to capture their support is ultimately aimed at freeing Paris of the need to use its veto, diplomats said. In order for a Security Council resolution to be passed, it needs the active support of at least nine members, with no vetoes. If a resolution fails to get the necessary support because too many countries abstain, it fails. Russia has made it clear that it is counting on the proposed resolution simply falling through due to lack of support rather than having to block it with a veto after a majority of the 15 council members vote in favour of it. That way, Russia would not have to go up against America publicly and jeopardise the hard-won rapprochement between Moscow and Washington that has been forged under President Putin. Yuri Fedotov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said yesterday his country's position was clear: "No new resolutions on Iraq are needed." Under such circumstances France and Russia could step back from the brink and wait to see how a war with Iraq worked out. If it began to go wrong they could point the finger and say: "I told you so." If successful, they would point to their own abstention as proof that they never actually opposed it. If Britain and America gain the necessary nine "yes" votes and force Russia and France to decide whether to veto the resolution, President Bush will be able to suggest that it is not America, but France, that is acting unilaterally, diplomats said. "By coming out publicly with their veto promise, France and Russia have also shown their desperation. They have had to say to the 'wavering' countries - whatever you decide will be a waste of time because we will veto, so you might as well abstain or vote no and keep in step with your electorate," the diplomats said. "Then, when they abstain, France and Russia can pull out of their veto threat as unnecessary, declaring, 'C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre', " said a diplomat, quoting Gen Pierre Bosquet watching the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. United States officials have said Washington is prepared to lead a war against Iraq with or without the support of the Security Council, though it would prefer to have the moral backing that a new UN resolution would provide. It has been assumed in diplomatic circles that Russia would not move against Washington on its own. "It is very much riding on France's coat tails on this one," said a British official. "Russia would never have suggested it would lodge a veto without an undertaking from France to do the same. The very fact that Russia was the first to announce its proposed veto on Monday, just hours ahead of the French announcement, was part of a deal under which Moscow could pretend to be acting independently of Paris." Mr Putin has held back from openly supporting a veto, leaving it to his foreign minister to make the statement and thus allowing himself an opportunity to wriggle if necessary. Russia and France have substantial trade ties with Iraq and respectively hold concessions on the largest and second largest Iraqi oil fields. telegraph.co.uk

To: American Spirit who wrote (379)	4/13/2003 1:58:02 PM
From: Tadsamillionaire	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 411

The list of assassins is referred to in a paper dated November 27, 2000. In it, an agent signing himself "SAB" says that the Russians have passed him a detailed list of killers. The letter does not describe any assignments that the assassins might be given but it indicates just how much Moscow was prepared to share with Baghdad. Another document, dated March 12, 2002, appears to confirm that Saddam had developed, or was developing nuclear weapons. The Russians warned Baghdad that if it refused to comply with the United Nations then that would give the United States "a cause to destroy any nuclear weapons". A letter from the Iraqi embassy in Moscow shows that Russia kept Iraq informed about its arms deals with other countries in the Middle East. Correspondence, dated January 27, 2000, informed Baghdad that in 1999 Syria bought rockets from Russia in two separate batches valued at $65 million (£41 million) and $73 million (£46 million). It also says that Egypt bought surface-to-air missiles from Russia and that Kuwait - Saddam's old enemy - wanted to buy Russian arms to the value of $1 billion. The Russians also informed Iraq that China had bought military aircraft from Russia and Israel at the end of 1999. Moscow also passed on information of Russians who could help Iraqi politicians obtain visas to go to many Western countries. The name of Osama bin Laden appears in a number of Russian reports. Several give details of his support for the rebels in Chechnya. They say bin Laden had built two training camps in Afghanistan, near the Iranian border, to train mujahideen fighters for Russia's rebel republic. The camps could each hold 300 fighters, who were all funded by bin Laden. Training materials found at the complex give insight into the Iraqi intelligence gathering methods. One certificate shows that a Rashid Jassim had passed an advance course in lock-picking. Other papers found at the headquarters include reports on the succession in Saudi Arabia and on US-Yemen relations. telegraph.co.uk