The Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said on Thursday morning that he was not frightened by American threats and his country was prepared to resist any attack. Anyone who attacks Iraq will die in "disgraceful failure," Saddam said in a speech to the nation. "The forces of evil will carry their coffins on their backs to die in disgraceful failure," he declared.
"There is no other choice for those who use threat and aggression but to be repelled even if they were to bring harm to their targets," Saddam said.
Speaking on the anniversary of the end of the Iran-Iraq war, Saddam also called on the United Nations Security Council to answer a series of questions recently posed by Baghdad. He made no direct mention of the U.S.-British demand for the return of U.N. arms inspectors to Iraq.
"I say it in such clear terms so that no weakling should imagine that when we ignore responding to ill talk, then this means that we are frightened by the impudent threats...and so that no greedy tyrant should be misled into an action the consequences of which are beyond their calculations," he said.
The Iraqi leader added the United Nations should honor its obligations over trade sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990 after its invasion of Kuwait.
Saddam's address came a day after President Bush said that while Baghdad posed "real threats," he would consult with Congress and U.S. allies on how to proceed. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
