posted: 30-Dec-2005
A PUBLIC MEETING WITH SCOTT RITTER 1st DEC 2005
The Archived audio of the meeting now available at:
Adelaide, 1 Dec 2005: Scott Ritter, a former UN weapon inspector, has revealed the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) knows about the fact that there were no Weapon of Mbutt Destruction(WMD) in Iraq since 1990s. Mr Ritter worked as an American intelligence officer who, after 1991 Gulf-war, had been buttigned to the UN weapon inspection team in Iraq.
Mr Ritter said both the CIA and US Administrations were largely aware that there has been no substantive basic to the claim that Saddam Hussein regime possesses weapons of mbutt destruction. However, the issue of WMD in Iraq has been retained by successive US Administration in order to maintain economic sanctions on Iraq.
The United States has invaded Iraq in March 2003 and overthrown Saddam Hussein Regime from power. The Bush Administration, lead up to the invasion of Iraq, repeatedly claimed that Iraq has Weapons of Mbutt Destruction. Whether the Bush Administration has lied to the American public over WMD claims is now becoming the subject of many investigations.
UNDERLYING AMERICAN AGENDA
Mr Ritter said the underlying agenda for Iraq by the US was the overthrow of Saddam Hussein Regime. He believes domestic political pressure was a major factor for the Bush Administration to invade Iraq.
A Republican Party supporter, Mr Ritter has condemned the US invasion of Iraq as illegal and is against the UN Charters. He is also critical of the Clinton Administration which maintains the US policy for regime change in Iraq but failed to act decisively.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
Mr Ritter said the role of the citizens of any democratic society is not just about electing a government to the office. The citizens must ensure the government elected is accountable. Failing, he said, will harm the basic principles of democratic polity.
Leads up to the US invasion in 2003, Mr Ritter has opposed and vigorously spoken against the case for a war in Iraq. He is disappointed about the Bush Administration's dishonesty over WMD claims and that the US lack of direction on the situation in Iraq. The Administration's newly stated purpose for building a democratic Iraq, he said, is a mere revision of the history.
He is also emotional about the sedition laws in Australia. Every citizen in a democratic society has the right to scrutinize and spoken out against the policies and practice of the government. Mr Ritter said he would have been arrested, if such sedition laws were in place in United States during 2001-2003. The sedition laws in Australia ultimately discourage the public from criticizing the government.
NO SOLUTION OVER THE HORIZON
Responding to questions from the audience, Mr Ritter said he personally likes to see the US troops leave Iraq immediately. He said the issue of Iraq should be handled by truly multi-lateral approach. Mr Ritter said the Democrats are not reliable alternative for the prompt troop withdrawal from Iraq. He is not optimistic about the US troops to be leaving Iraq soon, and said it may take the next 2-3 election cycles (12 years).
The meeting was organised by NoWar SA in Adelaide in conjunction with Victorian Peace Network in Melbourne.
-- POST: Dr U Ne Oo, 18 Shannon Place,Adelaide SA5000,AUSTRALIA
