(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): The DAP deplores the United States bombing of Iraq which would be seen by the world as a cynical use of force by President Clinton to save his US presidency from impeachment by the US House of Representatives.
What is most unacceptable in the US air strikes against Iraq is that it took place when the United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency meeting to discuss the report by the chief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler highly critical of Iraqi compliance with arms inspectors since their work resumed on November 17 after a break of more than two weeks caused by an Iraqi ban.
Why can’t Clinton wait until after the outcome of the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, unless the American President was more concerned about pre-empting the impeachment proceedings of the UN House of Representatives, which had been summoned for a historic debate and probable vote on four articles of impeachment on two counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power.
In bombing Iraq when the UN Security Council was in an emergency meeting on the Iraq crisis, the United States Government has shown not only utter contempt for the world body but is guilty of a blatant pursuit of the personal agenda of the United States President in complete disregard of international opinion and must be deplored by the international community.
(17/12/98)