After nearly a decade of a UN enforced state of siege, Iraqi youngsters are all too familiar with fear, want, and a conviction that western countries are their enemies. We have a chance to prove our resolve to seek reconciliation. Instead, Resolution 1284 emphasizes further resolve to ferret out weapons of mass destruction. That's what we fear. In other words, France fears that the resolution leaves the US government free to indulge its mean-spiritedness to its heart's content, precisely as it has in the past.
Iraqi people face a daily emergency.
Iraq had declared its rejection of the resolution long before the Security Council even began debate. If Iraq is going to renounce its intent to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, then the US should be asked to retract its maxim that sanctions will remain until Hussein is gone. And by the way despite their amazing altruism towards Iraq, the US couldn't convince permanent UN Security Council members France, Russia and China to go along with their sincere kindness and sympathy. All the while the Iraqi people continue to wait it out, forced to watch a once healthy and educated society slowly disintegrate, burdened by daily death and despair. Thank you, friends, for paying attention to this long letter.