[A-List] Australian sub-imperialism: Iraq

["Keaney Michael" <Michael.Keaney@xxxxxx>]

Baghdad threatens trade war with Australia
IAN BRUCE
The Herald, 14 August 2002

IRAQ has threatened to wage economic warfare by cancelling grain contracts
worth £300m if Australia does not reconsider its "offensive and hostile"
support of a US-led military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein.

Saad Al Samarai, Baghdad's ambassador to Canberra, urged the government to
reconsider or risk losing out on orders for 2.4m tonnes of wheat paid for
under the UN's oil-for-food scheme.

The threat has triggered a bitter political feud, with the opposition Labour
party and leaders of the grain industry questioning the government's "Rambo
tactics" at the expense of Australian jobs and export earnings.

However, John Howard, the premier, and Alexander Downer, the foreign
secretary, refuse to tone down the pro-American rhetoric or bow to Iraqi
pressure.

Iraq has already abandoned plans to buy an extra 500,000 tonnes of grain
this year and warns Australian exports to the Middle East could be
"blacklisted" if it keeps its hard line.

Canberra has offered an armoured brigade of about 3000 men, plus tanks, guns
and helicopters, if the US invades Iraq to achieve the stated goal of George
W Bush, the president, of "regime change".

Australia, along with the UK and Canada, was among the first allied nations
to provide special forces for the war in Afghanistan. About 150 troopers,
half the Australian SAS regiment, are involved in the hunt for al Qaeda and
Taliban fugitives.

Mr Samarai said he could not understand why Canberra was jeopardising more
than 50 years of friendly relations with Baghdad to support the US.

He was puzzled by the "unprovoked hostility" towards Baghdad and warned
Iraq's patience was limited if no review of Australia's attitude was
forthcoming.

"There was no conflict in our relationship before, so why do this? It is not
useful to be more American than the Americans," he added.

"Australia will sacrifice its interest in Iraq and be blacklisted if it does
not reconsider. This could cost it friends throughout the region," he added.

Mr Howard said he wanted a wide public debate before parliament discussed
joining any US alliance for an invasion.

"We want the Australian public to be aware of the possibility, or more
likely the balance of probabilities, that the Americans will get involved in
some form of action against Iraq and that there might well be a request to
Australia for assistance."

Simon Crean, the Labour leader, accused him of using inflammatory language
and urged Mr Howard to put pressure on Iraq to grant access to UN weapons
inspectors rather than "beating the war drums and costing the country money
in lost wheat exports".

Iraq has given mixed signals on whether it will allow UN inspectors to
return.

Last weekend, Saddam was reported to have told George Galloway, the visiting
MP for Glasgow Kelvin, that he was ready to meet UN demands.

However, Mohammad Saeed al-Sahaf, the information minister, appeared to
refute that, saying the inspectors had finished their work four years ago.

Naji Sabri, the foreign minister, failed to clear the confusion, saying only
that Iraq was formulating a reply to the UN request.

In other developments in the war against terror, Iran's president denied his
country had interfered in Afghan affairs or aided the Taliban and al Qaeda.

"We have no intention of interfering in the work of this nation and
government," said Mohammad Khatami, on the first visit to Afghanistan by an
Iranian head of state in four decades.

He claimed US leaders had misused September 11 to create "a war-like and
rough atmosphere in the world".

In London, plans were announced for a £1m garden at Grosvenor Square garden,
near the American Embassy, as a permanent memorial to the 67 British victims
of September 11.

The Prince of Wales, William Farish, the US ambassador, and government
leaders will attend a service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the first
anniversary of the atrocity.