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Tutu slams U.S., Britain over Iraq action
2003-002-4
1/8/2003
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[Episcopal News Service]
Retired South African archbishop Desmond Tutu criticized the U.S. as an arrogant superpower bent on unilateral action in an interview on the Iraq crisis telecast in Britain on January 6.
'I'm shocked to see a powerful country use its power frequently, unilaterally,' said Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for opposing apartheid in South Africa. 'The U.S. says: 'You do this' to the world. 'If you don't do it, we will do it.' That's sad.'
Tutu said it is 'mind-boggling' that British prime minister Tony Blair is strongly backing President George W. Bush in the showdown with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. 'Many, many of us are deeply saddened to see a great country such as the U.S. aided and abetted extraordinarily by Britain,' the archbishop said.
Tutu also questioned why Iraq is being singled out when India and Pakistan are confirmed nuclear powers. 'What do you do with weapons of mass destruction in Europe? What do you do with them in India? What do you do with them in Pakistan?' he asked. 'Where do you stop?
'America should remember they supported some of the most repressive governments,' he said. 'Let's hear what [UN weapons] inspectors get to see. But if you are going to apply UN resolutions there, you ask why there and not in other places. Why not in Palestine?'
Tutu was interviewed for the Jonathan Dimbleby Newsmakers program for the commercial ITV television network.
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