Who is UN trying to punish?

UN Security Council's permanent members are obviously at odds with one another over how to deal with Iraq in the wake of the latest report of the UN Weapons Inspector Richard Butler.

Washington has been garnishing support for a tougher stand vis-a-vis Iraq, including the imposition of additional sanctions.

The U.S. wants an immediate application of these punitive measures which ... prescribe a stiffer ban on the travel of Iraqi officials.

France and Russia have been trying to cushion the U.S. position, which is shared by Britain, by pleading for putting on hold all additional sanctions until next year.

We fail to understand why the Iraqis' right to travel should be the target of the council. What could possibly be the rationale behind preventing civilian aircraft from landing and taking off from Baghdad carrying civilian passengers including the sick and troubled?

Who is the UN trying to punish, the Iraqi people or their regime?

With all due consideration to demands for full compliance with the relevant UN resolutions, there is a point beyond which Washington and London cannot go in pursuing their punitive measures. No party stands to gain anything if Iraq is pushed to act in defiance and desperation.

-- The Jordan Times, Amman, Jordan,