No! to war for oil!

The announcement by the Iraqi Government that it will permit the return 
of UN weapons inspectors without conditions meets the demands that have 
been made by many countries. It should clear the way for the United Nations 
to insist that the US now withdraw its threats of invasion and allow for a 
peac eful settlement of other issues. The UN should also insist that the 
threats made against the UN itself by US leaders should also be 
withdrawn.

There is no real evidence that Iraq has any significant biological or 
chemical weapons or that it is preparing the construction of a nuclear 
weapon. All the so-called "evidence" presented by US President Bush, 
British Prime Minister Blair or Australian PM Howard has already been 
rejected by the UN. Even the CIA, notorious for concocting evidence, came 
up empty-handed, saying they could find "no convincing evidence".

However, the US and its two main lackeys are once again going to assert 
that "this is not enough". They remain committed to their real objective of 
"regime change" and the military occupation of Iraq.

It is now up to the other members of the UN Security Council to stand up to 
the US threats and bullying of other Security Council members and the 
bribery of others.

For example, there is the attempt to bribe the Russian government by 
alleging Russia would get repayment of the large debt owed to it by Iraq if 
they supported the imposition of a servile US imposed government in 
Baghdad.

On this question The Washington Post reported a statement by former 
CIA director, James Woolsey that "France and Russia have oil companies and 
interests in Iraq. They should be told that if they offer assistance in 
moving Iraq towards decent government, we'll do our best to ensure that the 
new government and American companies work closely with them."

The Washington Post also reported that "US and foreign oil companies 
have started manoeuvring for a stake in the country's [Iraq's] reserves of 
112 billion barrels of crude oil, the largest in the world outside Saudi 
Arabia."

Iraq has made concessions on the re-entry of weapons inspectors, earlier 
insisting on a comprehensive agreement that would prevent any attack by the 
US and the lifting of the 12-year UN sanctions that have caused the deaths 
of at least 500,000 innocent Iraqis.

There is also the question of the continued illegal bombing of Iraq by US 
and British planes in the so-called "no-fly" zones.

"If there is a solution that maintains Iraq's sovereignty, dignity and 
legitimate rights and prevents aggression, we are ready", said Iraqi Deputy 
Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.

The US administration continues to threaten and stand over the United 
Nations to have it rubber-stamp a declaration of war against Iraq. But as 
George W Bush and the senior officials in his government ratchet up the war 
rhetoric they have instead, isolated the US as strident and dictatorial in 
the eyes of the international community.

As The Guardian went to press the UN Security Council had not passed 
a resolution for or against an attack on Iraq but European nations — 
including Germany and France, Russia, China and Japan have spoken against 
unilateral action by the US.

The Arab regimes which are close to Washington have also publicly distanced 
themselves from Bush's war plans. Qatar and Oman, both of whom host US 
military bases, have assured the world that they are not with the Bush 
administration's attempt to effect a "regime change" in Iraq.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, stated: "Whether Saddam 
Hussein remains or is removed from power is up to the Iraqi people", a 
substantial change in position as Saudi Arabia was the main launchpad for 
US-led forces in the war on Iraq in 1991. Even NATO member Turkey is 
hesitant.

Only the Australian and British Governments have tied themselves to 
unquestioning support to the US war machine.

Opposition to war against Iraq in Australia has been taken into parliament 
by the Greens and Democrats. Peace organisations are also arranging 
demonstrations and public meetings. A public opinion poll shows three out 
of four Australians oppose a war with Iraq unless sanctioned by the UN.

In a statement a coalition of groups including Friends of the Earth, 
Ozpeace and the Australian Peace Committee said:

"The recent poll shows that in spite of unremitting propaganda in favour of 
a first strike on Iraq, the community has the good sense to see the 
hypocrisy of the position of the world's largest holder of weapons of mass 
destruction urging war against a country that may or may not have managed 
to accumulate some puny and rudimentary stockpile."

The hypocrisy of the US, Australian and British governments is highlighted 
by the fact that it is these governments that have accumulated vast 
stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction and are preparing to use them. It 
is Israel, backed by the US, which has ignored scores of UN decisions and 
continues its ferocious war against the Palestinian people of Arab states 
in the region.