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US-UK Airstrikes Against Iraq
Reactions, Explanations And Strategies

By M.R. Josse

INEVITABLY, the recent US-UK airstrikes against Iraqi military radar sites near Baghdad has set off a flurry of reactions and explanations while exposing the conflicting strategies of the protagonists. (It has been followed by strikes elsewhere, too.)

REACTIONS: Not surprisingly, Baghdad angrily vowed to avenge to teach US President George W. Bush, "son of the viper (former president) George Bush a lesson which he will never forget."

The first anti-Iraqi airstrike-since December 1998 led the Iraqi leadership to thus respond: "Iraq will continue to fight them (enemies) on land, in the air and at sea. Iraq will finally win."

Russia promptly condemned it in this way: "What the American military is in the process of doing, at the beginning of the new US administration, is a threat to international security."

Beijing retorted: "China opposes the armed intervention of any UN member state under any circumstances against any other nation without the express consent of she Security Council." (Later in the week she denied US allegations that she was helping Iraq upgrade its war-related communications system.)

Even France, which backed the creation of the two no-fly zones over Iraq and once flew airstrikes alongside US and British warplanes, expressed "incomprehension and discomfort."

The reaction of most Arab states was critical though there has been embarrassed silence among those Gulf monarchies that rely on US might for their security: Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

While Saudi Arabia and Kuwait did not respond to Baghdad’s taunts that they were "accomplices in crime", Egypt—one of America’s closest allies in the region and one that had contributed troops to help evict Iraq from Kuwait in 1991—rejected the strikes as "a serious negative step" that endangered Iraq’s "safety and sovereignty."

In Jordan, which depends on Iraqi oil, the strikes were viewed as a clear if ominous message of strength from the new Bush administration to every country in the region.

If the Iranian state radio said "the violent attacks from the American air force are signs of the adventurism of the new administration of George W. Bush", even Turkey expressed regret and concern urging the US to consult with her on its Iraq policy.

EXPLANATIONS: As far as explanations go, the Pentagon has indicated that the strikes were in response to increased Iraqi activity over the past month and attempts to target US and British aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone.

British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, defended London’s action in much the same fashion adding that Iraq has neither complied with post-Gulf War resolutions on weapons of mass destruction nor given up on its claims to Kuwait.

It may be mentioned that earlier this year Iraq and alarmed Kuwait by stepping up its threatening talk against Kuwait with Odai Hussein, the son of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying Kuwait should be included in a new map of Iraq.

Incidentally, Kuwait at this time sees its ties with Arab Gulf War allies tested by the lure of Iraqi oil wealth, the popularity of Saddam’s anti-Israeli rhetoric—given a boost by the continuing violence in the Middle East, and the election of hardliner Ariel Sharon as Israel’s new prime minister—and public anguish at the effects of sanctions on ordinary Iraqis.

Reportedly, Iraq has allocated half its UN-supervised oil-for-food contracts to Arab producers. Egypt expects to export $ 1 billion worth of goods to Iraq this year while Syria is planning to reopen a pipeline to carry Iraqi oil to Mediterranean port.

According to some analysts, the timing of the Anglo-American airstrikes against Iraq is meant to cloud the 26-27 February meeting in New York between an Iraqi delegation headed by Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on issues related to sanctions and UN weapons inspection operations inside Iraq.

Others have pointed out that the US-UK raids come when Iraq is enjoying a diplomatic resurgence and an economic boom because of high world oil prices. As per the Washington Post, food, medicines and other goods are more readily available now than at any time since international sanctions were imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to a 7-month occupation and touching off the Gulf War of 1991.

Significantly, Iraq has signed trade agreements with neighbouring countries and has upgrade diplomatic missions severely undermining America’s continuing efforts to isolate Iraq and bring about a regime change.

Be that as it may, what is also notable is that, shortly after the 16 February raids, the US and Israel began five days of joint exercises including tests of Patriot anti-missile missile. while US spokesman have been at pains to point out that the exercises were planned much before the raids on Baghdad, the ruling Baath party has threatened military retaliation against Saudi Arabia and Kuwait if they keep providing bases for such airstrikes.

STRATEGIES: With the diplomatic isolation facing the US and Britain, it is interesting that discussions are just underway (at the time of writing) between American and British diplomats on how to make sanctions against Iraq more effective (read against the ruling Iraqi elite, not the ordinary citizen.)

Notable, too, is that US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, "the reluctant warrior" who is traveling to the Middle East and Brussels has disclosed that the Bush administration is reviewing its Iraq policy.

In the meantime, of course, it would seem that Iraq’s "sympathy strategy" is working in her favour. Its four components are: Saddam would like to appear as victim, not villian: Air strikes will work against the US at the UN: In the process a ‘victimised’ Iraq is likely to get oil deals from France, Russia and China: And almost all Gulf War allies side with Iraq.

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