Mumbai, Sept 07: Iraq today charged that the fresh US and UK aircraft attack on it since yesterday was aimed at ‘escalating’ the situation in the region as a prelude to a war but cautioned the international community that the assault would only ‘open a Pandora's Box.’ “It is to escalate the attack in order to pave the way for an intensified war ... But let us warn that attacking Iraq is like opening a Pandora's Box. It is like opening a cage of all evils and problems, Iraqi Ambassador to India Salah-al-Mukhtar told newspersons here. “The real US intention has been not to resolve any dispute. As such there is no dispute; We have religiously followed united nations norms and destroyed our only chemical weapon system of mass destruction,” he said. “But the US objective is our oil,” he added.
The former editor-turned-envoy, who has bagged a number of awards for promoting bilateral relations since taking up his responsibility in India, said with latest discovery Iraq stood the chance of surpassing Saudi Arabia in oil reserves.

“All this facade and anti-Saddam Hssain actions are aimed at taking control of our oil riches to make us the unquestionable global power,” the diplomat said.

Bureau Report