The Hindu : 'U.S. charges on WMD proved wrong'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003

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'U.S. charges on WMD proved wrong'

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA APRIL 12. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said here today that the United States was wrong in accusing Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

``It is now proved that Washington was not right when it charged Baghdad with stockpiling WMD,'' he commented to the press after inaugurating the 101st annual general meeting of the Merchants Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Fernandes criticised the U.S. for constantly shifting its position for the sake of war — first it said Baghdad concealed WMD and then saying that ousting Saddam Hussein from the seat of power was its objective.

To a question on whether the U.S. could be charged with double standards for attacking Iraq, on the one hand, and maintaining silence on Pakistan, even when that country unleashed terrorists on India, on the other, Mr.Fernandes said : ``What has happened in Iraq cannot be accepted. You can call it double standards or anything.''

It was difficult to pinpoint the exact time when the war would end. ``The war in Iraq is continuing since 1991 with the U.S. attacking the country on a regular basis,'' he said.

Lakhs of Iraqi men, women and children had died because of lack of food and medicine in the past 10 years. ``When we say this war has entered its 30th day, it does not make any sense.''

The war would have a global impact, affecting the economy of many countries. He criticised the U.S. for waging the war defying the U.N. charter.

Mr. Fernandes said Washington was favouring Pakistan, ``the pioneer of terrorism''. ``It is a pity that Pakistan is backed by the U.S. which has waged a war on terrorism.''

On re-building the war-ravaged Iraq, Mr. Fernandes said India would like to involve in the relief and rehabilitation work there.

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