On Iraqi dossier

The outrageous behavior of the United States in seizing the Iraqi dossier from the UN for "copying" is, of course, all of a piece with the rest of its preparations for war with Iraq. Now, very serious allegations have surfaced that the Americans have "redacted" (edited) the document to excise the names of U.S. companies, many of which, surprise, surprise, are connected to the Republican Party.

According to Andreas Zumach, a Geneva-based reporter who claims to have had access to the dossier, some 24 U.S. companies were named as having aided Iraq's chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs. These include Honeywell, Hewlett Packard, Rockwell and Dupont, to name a few famous names. These allegations are substantiated by former assistant UN secretary-general Hans Van Sponeck.

In the many power plays going on since the Sept. 11 outrages, the Bush regime has leant over backwards to protect its corporate friends. This, it seems, is just one more example of their bare- faced mendacity. I am reminded, yet again, of lines from Bob Dylan's great anti-war song Masters of War, "...you play with my world/Like it was your own little toy".

Meanwhile, the supine behavior of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in allowing the U.S. to run off with the dossier surely constitutes grounds for his early resignation.

DAVID JARDINE

Jakarta