Et Cetera

Ever brazen, Saddam Hussein dispatched Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz to the United Nations to demand an end to sanctions. With maximum bluster and minimum facts that left members rolling their eyes, Aziz accused the Security Council of genocide and portrayed Iraq as victim. The council countered with a litany of violated agreements, thwarted weapons inspections, abuses against Kurds and Shi'ite Muslims and, as Aziz was reminded, the continued suffering of the Iraqi people because Saddam is diverting food shipments to his security forces and the military. After two days Aziz left empty-handed.