Iraqi President Saddam Hussein warned Tuesday that oil was not Iraq's only weapon and urged Arab countries to take action against the "intolerable injustice" in Israel.
"Say to your enemies, the enemies of our Arab nation who are the foul Jewish usurpers, their covetous allies, and all the colonialists and their abject servants: stop abusing the Arab nation," the Iraqi strongman said.
"The situation has become intolerable and injustice has settled down and reached its climax," Saddam said in a 25-minute televised address to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the coup that brought his Baath Party to power.
"Now it is the right time for you to seize your opportunity to be and to play the role God chose for you, otherwise, the enemies of the Arab nation will inflict more injustice and tyranny upon you," he said.
The 64-year-old president underlined his view that Iraq was today stronger in the struggle against the United States and warned that oil was not his sole weapon.
"Our willpower and our capability to build and to make choices are ... stronger now than before the beginning of the confrontation in the eternal mother of all battles," he said.
"Although petroleum is an essential part of our great national resources, it is not the basis of our potential and willpower, and it will certainly not be a doorway to weakness in us," he said.
The Iraqi leader said God would bestow "glory upon the courageous mujahedeen (those fighting an Islamic holy war) and all free and honest men who fight for the freedom of their countries." -- BAGHDAD (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
