Kolkata: Defence Minister George Fernandes on April 12 said Washington's contention
that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) had been proved wrong in the
war waged on Iraq by US-led coalition forces.
"It is now proven that what Washington said about weapons of mass destruction in the
hands of Baghdad was not right," Fernandes told reporters after the addressing the
101st annual general meeting of the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata.
He said the US had changed its position constantly for the war from citing Baghdad
was concealing WMDs to toppling the Saddam Hussein regime.
"The US was determined on what was done and the rest were supporting reasons to
attack Iraq."
Asked if the US was resorting to double standards in attacking Iraq while remaining
silent to Pakistan sponsored terrorism in India, he said, "What has happened in Iraq
is not acceptable whether you call it double-standards or anything."
To a question, Fernandes said that it was difficult to predict when the war would
end.
"The war in Iraq is going on since 1991, with regular attacks being carried out by
the US," Fernandes said.
"Lakhs of Iraqi women and children have died because of lack of food and medicine in
the last 10 years. To say that the war has entered the 29th or 30th day has no
meaning at all."
It would have far-reaching consequences globally, affecting the economy of many
countries, he said.
Pilloring the US for going to war defying the UN charter, Fernandes said India had all
along maintained that going out of the UN for any war, was unjustified.
"The war in Iraq is absolutely unjustified," he stressed.
The Defence Minister also regretted that Islamabad had found favour with Washington
in recent times centring on the Iraq war.
"It is a pity that Pakistan, the pioneer of terrorism, has been garnering support and favour
of the US, which has waged a global war on terrorism."
Questioned on India's role in the reconstruction in post war Iraq, he said "What can we
do? It is the US, which launched the war for its own benefit. Now that the question of
reconstruction has been raised, it is the US that will reap the benefit commercially by
bagging contracts."
Stating that the situation in Iraq was 'chaotic', he said New Delhi would like to join in the
relief, rehabilitation and humanitarian work there.
"India has always been ahead of others in providing humanitarian relief and here too we
will do whatever necessary can be done," he said.
"I don't know when relief activities can be undertaken in Iraq since the administration
there has totally collapsed," he added.
PTI
