Iraq resumes cooperation with UN

The entire world, and particularly the Arab countries, breathed a collective sigh of relief after the announcement by U.S. President Bill Clinton that American and British strikes against Iraq would not be carried out following Iraq's decision to resume cooperation with the UN weapons inspectors.

The U.S. and Britain will continue to wait, fingers on the trigger, for the next time Iraq decides to interrupt the work of the UNSCOM team.

In addition to making no mention of a timetable or schedule for lifting the sanctions, at least partially, Clinton in his speech also offered the clearest indication yet that the American administration is intent on toppling Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The sanctions have been tied to disarming Iraq, not to a political change in the country. Introducing such a plan into the equation at this point in time is grossly unfair to the Iraqi people. Although this crisis is over, the difficult part remains: getting the sanctions lifted. To do this, Iraq has no choice but to cooperate fully with UNSCOM staff. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Britain should not change the nature of the inspections by introducing this new political dimension.

-- The Jordan Times, Amman