Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said it seemed "the U.S. was in a Hurry" to bomb iraq. India said the missile attack was "highly regrettable," and China expressed its "strong displeasure." European allies France and Spain denounced the bombing, as did Russia, which threatened to veto a watered-down U.N. resolution critical of Iraq. In fact, other than strong support from Bretain and lukewarm approval from Germany, Japan and a ffew others, the United States was been roundly rebuked for its to sets of cruise missile attacks on Iraq. One newspaper in Saudi Arabia, Washington's Main ally in the Gulf and temporrary home to good portionof the 20,000 ground troops the U.S. now has in West Asia, wrote: "A superpower like the United States has no right to punish other countries or act as a policeman."
Nevertheless, that is precisely what the U.S. did.And the rest of the world appears unable to the much more than publicly complain. Disgruntled allies must choose their words carefully-no one wants to give the impression to Iraqi strongman Mr.Saddam Hussein that they back him. Critical of theU.S.? Yes. Angry that Washington has abondoned a multilateral approach to dealing with Iraq? Absolutely. Supportive of Mr.Hussein'smilitary adventure in the Kurdish prottected zone of northern Iraq? Not a chance. Within this targeted criticism, however, lie the keys to understanding howU.S. objectives have diverged from the world's. And that recognation may show the way toward modified security arrangements that would reduce the likelihood of unilateral military actions as well as torrorism.
Despite heavy criticism of the U.S. missile attacks, the world still needs protection of its oil supply lines from the "Buther of Baghdad." In 1991, when President George Bush cobbled together a broad coalition in support of the military campaign to drive Iraq out of kuwait, keeping the Gulf oil flowing was the common interest. Clearly, the latest U.S. action was not perceived as vital to that interest. Oil supplies were not threatened byMr. Hussein's military intervintion in support of one Kurdish faction against another, Indeed, if not for theU.S. raids, more oil-a small amount of Iraq's own for the first time since 1991--would soon have been exported to buy food and midicine for Iraqis, needed espicialy for young children. The easing of sactions that would have permitted the sale has been delayed again by the tention.
Name: Alvin A. Ingatan
Subject: Internet 2 "html"
Section: E-12