Narrator:

The Saddam Hussein School for Young Girls. Six to 10 year olds pay homage to their president. The children hardly understand the situation Iraq's in, they weren't even born during the Gulf War in 1991.

We are prepared for the fight. Saddam Hussein gives us the strength to fight our enemies.

Under the beady eye of the military the headmistress teaches her pupils to memorise such passionate phrases. In front of our journalists' cameras, a unified chorus promises, "Saddam we sacrifice our blood."

At first glance everything in Baghdad seems perfectly normal. The streets buzz with everyday activity. There's no visible signs of any preparations for war.

Everywhere larger-than-life mosaic pictures of the president smile down benevolently. As always, however, the hated American enemy is trampled disdainfully underfoot.

Iraqi General?:

The Americans are targeting Iraq for a new wide military aggression, again. The whole issue is from the very beginning 'til now, is oil. America wants to dictate the policies, political policies, economic policies, military policies of the whole region according to its imperialist interests, not towards legitimate interests.

Narrator:

Until the Gulf War, Iraq was one of the biggest oil providers in the Middle East. Since then UN trade sanctions have limited Iraq selling just one-third of its oil exclusively for humanitarian reasons.

At the Arab Summit held in Beirut earlier this year, the Iraqi representative surprised everyone by sharing kisses with previously staunch enemies, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Already on sandy foundations in the Middle East, such new levels of cooperation are a serious strategic worry for George Bush.

Iraq desperately needs allies among her neighbours to ward off the American threat, after 11 years of the UN-imposed embargo, the economy is in dire straits. Food supplies are vital since money is worth nothing. From ballpoint pens to computers, many basic necessities are once again on the embargo list. Even steel is sanctioned. Every last screw is used again and again.

Because of the complicated UN import regulations medics are in short supply. The cost of treatment on the black market is crippling the country's poor.

Pharmacy Woman:

No there's nothing left. It's so little so we buy it commercially and it will be so expensive for the citizens. But we don't have any choice.

Narrator:

The Saddam Hussein Children's Hospital in Baghdad, even here there's no money for medicine. Instead Saddam donates $25,000 to the family of every Palestinian martyr. According to Iraqi research the number of children with lung disease, leukaemia, and deformities has risen by a quarter. There is no international study to back this up.

Concealed behind high walls lies the synagogue in Baghdad. Only a handful of Iraqi Jews still remain in the city. They've given us permission to film, but refuse to speak.

This shop owner in Basra thinks he is well enough, but he knows that without Saddam he would be even better off. The walls have ears and his lips are sealed.

Iraqi Shopowner:

[Foreign language].

Narrator:

Only praising the president is permitted. "Saddam Hussein is good, USA are the enemy" resounds from shops across the country.

Man:

Down, down America. Iraq very good, yes.

Man 2:

Saddam very good.

Man:

Saddam very good.

Man 2:

No American. No [foreign language]. Saddam. Saddam.

Narrator:

The Amiriyah bunker in Baghdad. In here, in 1991, 410 civilians were killed in an American missile attack. For six years [Russia Francea] has taken visitors to the shelter.

Russia Francea:

There are four brothers, all of them killed here inside the shelter. You can see here each one different families and all of them under 18.

Narrator:

We're not allowed to film the second story of the bunker, according to US Intelligence the site of an old military headquarters. In this bunker the Iraqis were accused of using civilians as human shields.

At the Organisation for Friendship, Peace & Solidarity, a dim view is taken of production of weapons mass destruction. Awaiting us is the former Iraqi Ambassador to the Germany and to France.

Ambassador:

They know, the American. They know very well, and every foreign ministry office in Europe, in the world, they know that Iraq it no longer has, Iraq is no longer capable, Iraq is no longer willing to produce any kind of mass destruction weapon.

Narrator:

The USA and their allies see the situation somewhat differently. They fear the deployment of these weapons against Israel, and against the entire western world.

Ambassador:

We can defend Iraq. You see we cannot prevent United States from attacking Iraq. If they want to attack Iraq, they can do it, and nobody can prevent them from doing that. But one thing for sure we know that we can defend Iraq. We can prevent United States from achieving its objectives in Iraq. This we can do.

Narrator:

Secretly-filmed footage from Southern Iraq leaves the distinct impression of the heightened war readiness. Cars searches and roadblocks in Basra near the Kuwaiti border intensified. But just over the border there are only 7000 American and British troops on standby.

For the moment it seems the American threat is just theoretical, but for how long?