Not Your Sweetie

Russel Mokhiber
Shows Ari what Journalism is Again:


Q Two things. Actually, a follow-up to the Iraq-U.S. alliance. The San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday
that a number of major American corporations -- including Hewlett-Packard and Bechtel -- helped Saddam
Hussein beef up its military in the '80s. And also the Washington Post last month in a front-page article by
Michael Dobbs said the United States during the '80s supplied Iraq with cluster bombs, intelligence and
chemical and biological agents.

In that same article they reported that Donald Rumsfeld, now Secretary of Defense, went to Baghdad in
December '83 and met with Saddam Hussein, and this was at a time when Iraq was using chemical weapons
almost on a daily basis in defiance of international conventions.

So there are some specifics, and the question is, if Iraq is part of the axis of evil, why isn't the United States
and these American corporations part of the axis of evil for helping him out during his time of need?

MR. FLEISCHER: Russell, as I indicated, I think that you have to make a distinction between chemical and
biological. And, clearly, in a previous era, following the fall of the Sha of Iran, when there was a focus on the
risks that were underway in the region as a result of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Iran, different
administrations, beginning with President Carter, reached different conclusions about the level of military
cooperation vis-a-vis Iraq.

Obviously, Saddam Hussein since that time has used whatever material he had for the purpose therefore of
attacking Kuwait, attacking Saudia Arabia, attacking Israel. And, obviously, as circumstances warrant, we have
an approach that requires now the world to focus on the threat that Saddam Hussein presents and that he
presents this threat because of his desire to continue to acquire weapons and his willingness to use those
weapons against others.

Q So was it a mistake for the U.S. to support Saddam?

MR. FLEISCHER: Russell. Russell.