C A V E A T.

(From The Statesman (India))

How much longer! CR Irani The awesome duo, Bush and Blair have had their way, substantially at any rate over Iraq - sanctions are lifted and oil flows for the benefit of the Iraqi people! Blair has said it and Bush has elaborated it. An American is sitting in the Iraqi Oil Ministry to make sure nothing unfortunate happens to Dick Cheney's Halliburton company and just as soon as America has recouped itself - with a margin for error - for the cost of the wholly illegal war, sales at prices fixed by the occupying powers, to countries favoured by the occupying powers, in quantities determined by the occupying powers, will hit the road. The best that can be expected now is that the horrendous damage caused will, in time, be made good from proceeds of oil sales. Who says crime does not pay? The Anglo-American sponsored resolution in the Security Council has passed, nem con - Russia went along because its existing contracts in Iraq would be honoured. France is assured of dues from that unfortunate country if it co-operates. Syria, Security Council member pro tem, recalled its representative for consultations to escape severe pressure from the US not to vote against. The resolution is said to have suffered 90 amendments. Never was so much effort, expended by so many, for so little. Iraqi oil remains firmly in coalition hands but the UN gets a role in peacekeeping. This must be a relief to Bush; he and his occupation army are so popular that poor GIs are being picked off like flies by guerrillas, who remain active. The war was illegal; the request for peacekeeping forces from aggressors would be against International Law. I have repeated advised Delhi not to participate except under a UN umbrella and effective UN control. There is no sign of that yet. Blair continues to lean on the respected Attorney-General Lord Peter Goldsmith. He has opined that a further UN mandate is necessary for any activity in Iraq beyond maintaining law and order. Blair's answer fudges the issue. He says it is completely wrong to say that he and his government have ever acted unlawfully. And that is that! As for Bush, the American system of checks and balances is barely limping along. It is announced that the CIA will be investigated to find out how it went so wrong over inputs about the mythical weapons of mass destruction. Nothing daunted, Bush acting on further CIA fantasies, has already broken off ties with Iran on the allegation that ...