Learn what will happen during the tribulation period from beginning to end
Your comments and questions are always welcome. To send comments and questions please click here to go to our main page. November 11, 2002 By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's parliament unanimously recommended rejection of a U.N. resolution on arms inspections Tuesday, hours after President Saddam Hussein's son urged its acceptance if Arabs were included on the inspection teams. Lawmakers, however, said the final decision rests with Saddam.
The United Nations has asked Iraq to respond by Friday.
Tuesday's vote by representatives who must pledge loyalty to Saddam to earn a place in parliament could be seen as strengthening Saddam's hand if he wants to push for a change in the U.N. resolution along the lines proposed by his son and earlier by Arab foreign ministers.
The United States, though, has said it will have no patience with any Iraqi attempts to manipulate U.N. demands.
Parliament Speaker Saadoun Hammadi described the vote as "a message to the United States that the people of Iraq are united behind their leadership, and it also shows that the people of Iraq know that in the U.N. resolution ... there are major allegations which are baseless."
"This decision by the Iraqi National Assembly is the right and patriotic stance, which expresses the Iraqi people's opinion," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported Tuesday that Iraq has ordered large amounts of atropine, a drug that can be used to counter the effects of nerve gas. The Times, quoting senior Bush administration officials, said the orders were placed mainly with suppliers in Turkey and that the United States is pressing Turkey to stop the sales.
"If the Iraqis were going to use nerve agents, they would want to take steps to protect their own soldiers, if not their population," an official told the Times. END
This is a huge development! Of course, the final decision lies with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, but it's generally believed that the unanimous vote by the Iraqi parliament is a show of support for what will come. He has until Friday to make his final decision.
This changes things dramatically. We will have to wait and see what the future brings, but I don't see any revisions in Saddam's decision on Friday. President Bush responded to the news with a message that promised swift and certain consequences.
The problem that plagues this war is still the same…Israel. Iraq is insane to defy the U.S. and their allies unless they have help and lots of it. I don't see the Arab nations rising up to provide help, but anything is possible. That's why this situation is so unpredictable; it has many directions that it can ultimately take.
Pastor Malone