Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 10:41 PM
Subject: Turn-around in Canadian Policy on
Iraq.
Canada Palestine Association,
P.O.Box 1085
Halifax, N.S. B3J 2X1
Oct. 2, 2002
The Hon. Mr. Bill Graham, M.P.
Minister of Foreign affairs.
Dear Mr. Graham:
We were shocked to hear your statement today announcing this
unexplainable turn-around in our country's policy related to the war being
planned by Bush and Blair against Iraq. The return of UN inspectors was first
used as an excuse, and when Iraq accepted the unconditional admission of the
inspectors to Iraq, their tune changed. We were initially proud that Mr.
Chretien and yourelf stated clearly that Canada will not join such a war, unless
there is clear evidence confirming Iraq's role in terrorism or the threat of war
against anybody. None of this evidence is available, so why is this dramatic
reversal of policy? Must we allow ourselves to be submissive to US illegal
policies that defy international law?
It is evident, to any one with an open mind, that Mr. Bush is
determined to destroy Iraq for a number of possible motivations, that defy
international law, regardless of the inspectors' possible findings. A war
against Iraq will cause indescribable death and destruction against innocent
civilians. Surely that is not the moral standard that we continue to claim in
our foreign policy. This war will result in horrific war crimes and our country
should not be a party to that. The innocent people of Iraq have already been
subjected to death and devastation as a result of the sanctions imposed by the
US and UK over the last twelve years. UN bodies report approximately 1.5 million
deaths. over 5,000 children under the age of five die every month
because of starvation and disease. The use of depleted
uranium has caused a tremendous increase in birth defects and
cancer in Iraq. These are war crimes and we should
oppose these sanctions.
The pretexts, that Bush and Blair use for this war, show a clear
policy of hypocrisy and double standards. If the refusal to
admit UN inspectors, which was the initial excuse which does no longer exist,
why is it acceptable for Israel to refuse to admit UN inspectors, as required in
Security Council resolution # 1405? Mr. Bush says that Iraq stands in
defiance of 16 UN resolutions. Israel stands in defiance of over 70 Security
Council resolutions, not to mention the scores of resolutions vetoed by the US.
Security Council resolution # 1435 of last week is still being
defied by Israel. Saddam is accused of thinking about acquiring nuclear
weapons, and holding chemical and biological weapons. Israel already has
nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and has in fact
used chemical weapons when the then prime minister B. Netanyahu
sent his Mossad agents, carrying Canadian passports, to Amman,
Jordan, in 1997, in the attempt to assassinate Khalid Meshal. Israel is
working, at the Biological Institute in Nes Tziyona in Israel, on the
development of The 'Ethnic Bomb', that would kill Arabs and
spare Jews. Are Messrs Bush and Blair planning to invade Israel?
Surely, sir, our country should not be a party to these acts of
hypocrisy and war crimes. Peaceful means must be used to deal with this problem,
and it appears that Dr. Blix is making excellent progress and should be allowed
to proceed unchallenged by the US.
Yours sincerely,
Ismail Zayid, MD
President, Canada Palestine Association.