As the United States steps up its diplomatic and military pressure against Iraq, President Saddam Hussein is reaching out to his people, writes Salah Hemeid Just two days after winning a 100 per cent approval rating from his people, Saddam Hussein has decreed a general amnesty for Iraq's prisoners. Jails are to be emptied of almost all inmates, from common thieves to political prisoners. Saddam's decree, read on national television by Information Minister Mohamed Saeed Al-Sahhaf, stated that this "full, complete and final amnesty" applied to "anyone imprisoned or arrested for political or any other reason", but excluded those accused of spying for Israel and the United States. The amnesty, dubbed as "Saddam's bounty for the sinful and the wrongdoers" by Iraqi official media, has come as the Iraqi leader attempts to garner domestic and international support against US efforts to remove him from power. Earlier this month, Saddam ordered a string of measures to consolidate his shaky power base through the dispensation of gifts and rewards. Plots of land have been allocated to loyalists in the army, government and the ruling party. A state-owned housing bank, closed down years ago, was reopened to provide interest-free loans to government cronies and supporters, while cars, mostly French-made Peugeots, were sold at discount prices. Exiled Iraqis and US officials, however, were quick to dismiss Saddam's conciliatory moves as a public relations exercise and his offers as being too little too late. Akram Al-Hakim, a veteran opposition leader, described the amnesty as "arrogant, scornful and meaningless". He told Al-Ahram Weekly that the amnesty was a sign of "weakness and deep frustration". "When will all Iraqis be freed from Saddam's prison, namely Iraq?" he said in an interview from London. US Secretary of State Colin Powell, dismissed Saddam's move as "manipulation". He told ABC's This Week programme: "they [those released] better watch out [for] where the next door is that puts them right back in jail. I mean, this is typical of this man's use of human beings for these political purposes of his." The British government expressed similar disdain. Saddam's move was clearly a message aimed at the US and international community. Saddam is under the impression that he can buy more time by driving a wedge between US President George W Bush's administration and US public opinion on the one hand, and the US and its Arab allies on the other. Meanwhile, the US is making great efforts to win allies in its attempt to secure a new UN resolution to disarm Iraq. Powell has said that the US expects a resolution setting stringent guidelines for new inspections of Iraq's weapons programmes to be passed by the Security Council this week. US diplomats, on Monday, distributed a draft resolution on Iraq to the other veto- wielding members of the Security Council. If passed these would toughen weapons inspections and ensure "consequences" if Iraq fails to comply. Washington has also sent its Assistant Secretary of State, William Burns, to the region to seek support from reluctant Arab governments for its plans against Iraq. Furthermore, President Bush has reportedly authorised US combat training for Iraqi opponents of Saddam. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has identified as many as 5,000 recruits for an initial training phase to begin next month. The plans include instructing Iraqis in basic combat as well as specialised skills to serve as battlefield advisers, scouts and interpreters to US ground troops. In a force that will eventually number about 10,000, Iraqi's will be trained as forward spotters for laser-guided bombs and as military police to run prisoner- of-war camps inside Iraq. The Post said that Bush also approved the expenditure of $92 million in Defense Department funds. These decisions mark another key step forward in preparation for an assault on Iraq. In recent weeks, the Pentagon has built up equipment stocks in the Gulf states, begun dispatching additional combat troops, issued orders to move headquarters units into place and made preparations to facilitate the deployment of tens of thousands of troops, in the event of an attack. The US Navy has also increased the readiness of its aircraft carrier fleet. There are two carriers within striking distance of Iraq at the moment, but Washington plans to send two more soon. By the end of the year there will be four in the region. Controversially, there are even reports that the Bush administration is considering an Israeli proposal for joint operations in Iraq's western desert to disarm any Iraqi missiles before they become a threat. The operation would not only protect Israeli civilians from an Iraqi attack, but also eliminate the prospect of an Israeli retaliatory attack on Iraq. Under the proposal, presented during Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to Washington last week, US special forces would disarm Iraqi missiles early on in the conflict. Such a move would almost certainly create problems for Washington's regional strategy. Any Israeli involvement in a war against Iraq would likely generate a strong negative Arab reaction, jeopardising US plans for a post-Saddam Middle East.
