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CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
Discussion with Arab League Ambassador to United Nations
Aired March 17, 2003 - 12:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're joined by a man who helped convince Iraq to let U.N. inspectors back in, way back, several months ago. The Arab League's ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Yahya Mahmassani.
Mr. Ambassador, I know these are difficult times for everyone, especially in the Arab world. Is it possible, even at this late moment, do you believe, that Saddam Hussein would, in fact, avert a war by going into exile?
AMBASSADOR YAHYA MAHMASSANI, ARAB LEAGUE. AMB. TO U.N.: Well, you know, let's put it this way, wars are not natural disasters. War are man-made disasters, and they can be stopped for those who launch the wars will stop launching them. One question is this, at a time when the inspections are working. At a time when Iraq doesn't pose any danger to anybody, why are we going to war? One month, just one month, would have made a difference between life and death, destruction and havoc over the Middle East. This war could have been stopped if just one month was given to the United Nations Security Council to resume its work and allow the inspectors to proceed.
BLITZER: Do you believe if the U.S. Would have gone along with another month of inspections, when all is said and done, that would have made a significant difference, other than just delay the war by a month? Would the U.S., in other words, the Bush administration, been satisfied with Iraq's cooperation within a month?
MAHMASSANI: It is up to the Security Council to be satisfied, not one member state only.
But let me tell you this, it has been testified by the inspectors. They have gone a long way in their inspections. The Samoud-2 were destroyed. Documents were presented. Weapons were being destroyed. These inspections was working.
Yes, one month would have made a difference between war and peace.
BLITZER: Well, that Obviously it now is subject that historians will write about. It's moot right now because the president of the United States has made it clear by tomorrow night Eastern Time, the offer to Saddam Hussein to survive is over effectively.
Let me get back to the issue. Is it realistic at all to think that Saddam Hussein and his two sons might, Uday and Hussay (ph) might, in fact, go into exile?
MAHMASSANI: Well, first of all, this is a decision up to the Iraqi leadership and the Iraqi people.
But let me ask you something now, I thought we were talking about weapons of mass destruction. Now we are talking about regime change. Is this what this is all about, regime change? If you start with Iraq in the process of regime change, where are you going to next stop? Who's going to be your next victim? Are you going to go on with this policy of preemption, targeting people, targeting regimes that you don't like, who you disagree with? What kind of a world are we endorsing? Are we going back to the old centuries (ph) and the white man's burden. You want to democratize the world. You don't like this country so you threaten and you say to the leader, leave, or I will attack? Is this really the 21st century?
BLITZER: Well, let me talk about the Arab world. You represent the Arab world to the United Nations. There's a deep split. I'm in Kuwait right now, where the Kuwaiti government strongly support the Bush administration actively cooperating military. But many other Arabs, as you well know, strongly oppose what the Bush administration is doing. What will be the fallout in the short term if the U.S. military wins decisively together with British and Australian forces let's say in a week or two and Saddam Hussein's regime is overthrown?
MAHMASSANI: First of all, let me tell you all the Arab leaders at this summit have issued clear resolution. They all support a peaceful solution and the weapons inspector, and they all categorically reject the approach of war.
Now, you are talking about win or lose. Well, I will tell you, the United States and its allies may win this war. But you know, the world will lose its peace. The world will lose its security. And the region will be engulfed with havoc, violence and outrage and anger. This is something we do not accept, particularly at a time when the Israelis continue to occupy our territories. Now we have one occupation by the Israelis and another by the Americans. The Arab people will not take it.
BLITZER: Very, very gloomy thought. Mr. Ambassador, thank you very much for spending a few moments with us during these critical moments in the showdown with Iraq. We appreciate it very much. Good luck to you, Ambassador Yahya Mahmassani, the Arab League ambassador to the United Nations.
MAHMASSANI: Thank you, Wolf.
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