On August 20, 2002, some Iraqi dissidents from the Democratic Iraqi Opposition, an unknown group, seized the Iraqi embassy in Berlin, Germany, asking the end of Saddam Hussein's regime. The German police stormed the building five hours later, liberated 4 hostages, and arrested 5 Iraqis. One hostage suffered eye irritation due to tear gas used by the police that also fired two shots. This incident occurred a few days after the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, repeated that Germany would not back up the US in its war against Iraq.
At the end of April 2002 Iraqi defectors said -for what their information is worth, and in the past it was not worth much- that Iraq is buying arms from Eastern Europe, and is putting its army on high alert. The press seems to be surprised but what can we expect from a country that is threatened by the most powerful power on the earth. Doing nothing of this kind would be most surprising. Pictures of young boys and girls in Baghdad and Tikrit parading to feast the 65th birthday of Saddam Hussein are pure propaganda, but show that he still has huge power. Moreover, the people of Iraq are afraid of an invasion. Who would not be as it becomes clearer every day that the US would bomb Iraq heavily before sending its ground forces -or will it be the British's in order to avoid American casualties.
At the beginning of August 2002, Iraq proposed to hold talks in Baghdad with the chief of the UN inspectors, Hans Blix. The US and Britain said that it was the usual Saddam Hussein game to gain time. President Bush added that the Americans aim is to change the Iraqi regime, inspections or not. Hans Blix refused the Iraqi offer, and said that he would not go to Baghdad in these conditions. At the same time the US is increasing its oil stockpile as a war in Iraq could lead to a sharp reduction in oil supply from other Arab countries and a price increase (perhaps up to $50 to $60) followed by a heavy drop in the US economy, not to mention a world crisis. After all, President George Bush senior lost his bid for re-election because the Gulf war led to an economical crisis and George Junior does not want this to happen again. The Gulf war cost was about $80bn, but the US allies paid 80% of it. This time the whole cost would probably have to be paid by the US. A prolonged conflict could result in unrest across the Gulf and bring down pro-western regimes, such as in Saudi Arabia. The emergence of a hard-line regime in Saudi Arabia and the interruption of oil production there (where 30% of the world oil reserves are) would lead to a panic in the oil market followed by a world recession.
The leaders of the two Kurdish groups controlling Northern Iraq -the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan- set aside their long standing rivalry to join forces, hoping in this way that Saddam Hussein will be thrown out, and that they will gain independence for the Kurd nation. Together they could put together an army of 80,000 men.
On Saturday September 13, 2002, Iraq rejected again the US-UK pressures to allow weapons inspectors on its soil without any condition.
The main members of the inner Iraqi cabinet are:
- Qusay, the President's younger son and heir apparent.
- Abed Hamid Mahmoud, Saddam Hussein's personal secretary. He is from the
same town, Tikrit.
- Ali Hassan al-Majid. The president's cousin involved in Kurdish atrocities
and in Saddam 1996 family massacre.
- Ezzat Hibrahim, deputy chairman of the revolutionary command council.
- Yariq Aziz, deputy prime minister, an adviser for more than 20 years.
- Taha Yassin Ramadan, vice president and foreign policy adviser.
- Naji Sabri, foreign minister.
On October 15, 2002, Saddam Hussein has been confirmed as Iraqi president for another 7 years with 100% of the votes!! Can you believe it?
At the end of October 2002, Saddam Hussein ordered a large amnesty that will free almost all prisoners in Iraqi prison, including the political prisoners. According to the Iraqi media, this was his way to say "thank you" for being re-elected to a new five years term of office as president.
On November 15, 2002, the Iraqis fired some land-to-air missiles at the American/British planes policing the non-flying zones of Iraq. The planes bombed an Iraqi air defence site in retaliation. The USA is already saying that Iraq is breaching the terms of the last UN Resolution (No 1441).
Saddam Hussein is believed to have an agreement with Libya so that his direct family and the top leaders of his regime would be given political asylum there in the event of a war with the USA. The price is said to be $3.5 billion dollars. It does not seem that Saddam Hussein, or his oldest son, Uday, are part of the deal. Syria, according to the same source, would grant an overland escape route.
About November 15, 2002, the Iraqi television said an allied air strike in Southern Iraq killed seven civilians. In a letter to the Iraqi parliament, Saddam Hussein said that he accepted the tough UN Resolution 1441 in order to prevent invasion by the USA and Israel!
The Iraqis shot down an US pilot-less plane over the non-fly zone on December 23, 2002. It is not clear if it was shot down by an Iraqi plane, or by a ground-to-air missile. It is not the first time that this happens, and the US took it in their stride, describing it a lucky shot.
On Christmas Day 2002, Saddam Hussein said that Iraq was ready for a holy war with the USA that he accuses of lying. He said that the US and Israel will first attack Iraq as a preparation to spread their hegemony all over the world. He repeated that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction and, up to now, nobody has proved him wrong.
On January 6, 2003, the Army Day in Iraq, Saddam Hussein accused the UN inspectors of espionage for the USA. This was, of course, denied. He also said that his nation was ready to go to war with the US, casting doubt on the diplomatic efforts to avoid invasion.
January 17, 2003, was the 12th anniversary of the Gulf war to liberate Kuwait.
The Iraqi president Saddam Hussein delivered a blasting speech in which he
said that any invader faced "suicide" at Baghdad's gates, and that
Iraq was mustering the strength of its army, people and leadership. There
had been talk the days before that he was subjected to some kind of outside
pressure to leave Iraq, but he showed no sign that he would follow this advise,
or back down in front of the powerful US army being assembled just outside
his country.