REPORTER: Mark Davis
MARK DAVIS: UN headquarters, New York, as Hans Blix delivers his second weapons inspection report on Iraq. It will be responded to by 15 members of the Security Council and through the week, 191 other nations - each with their own message. And each message will be massaged and retuned for a home audience. Still more voices come from a few protesters nearby, keeping constant vigil.
MAN IN STREET: I would like to see the flag hung upside down as a sign for the anti-war movement in this country. Because according to the...
SECOND MAN IN STREET: Go somewhere else if you don't like this country!
MAN IN STREET: I love this country.
SECOND MAN IN STREET: My father died for that flag. People are cruel.
MARK DAVIS: One report - a thousand points of view. We follow one of those perspectives in this program through the eyes of Yahya Mahmassani, Arab League ambassador to the United Nations. Mahmassani, a career diplomat, now the Arab world's representative in this critical week.
COLIN POWELL AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: Enough. We will not tolerate Iraq continuing to have weapons of mass destruction to be used against...
MARK DAVIS: One by one, each country gives their response to the Iraqi crisis. It soon becomes clear which side of the debate the bulk of delegates will be supporting.
FRENCH UN AMBASSADOR (Translation): Using force would have such grave consequences for people, for the region and for international stability, that it must only be regarded as a very last resort.
MARK DAVIS: The normally sober Security Council continually erupting with applause after responses.
SPEAKER: I have to call to order the audience - it is not allowed to applause here in the Security Council.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI, ARAB LEAGUE UN AMBASSADOR: I am an old hand here. I have been here a long time to tell you. I was here in the '60s, the '70s. This is the first time that diplomats representing sovereign states applaud another statesman in the Security Council. And the message is clear. The public opinion of diplomats is not to go to war.
MARK DAVIS: Applause may be encouraging, but Iraq's ambassador here, Mohammed Aldouri knows that it won't be enough to stop a war. Iraq has been critical of some of its fellow Arab League members for their apparent ambivalence in opposing the war. But Mahmassani maintains that the Arab position is clear and strong and bewildered as to why countries like Australia would want to be involved.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: What threat does Iraq pose to those countries beyond the seven seas? Why should Australia be threatened by Iraq? Is there a threat by Iraq to Australia? None whatsoever. Why should Australian blood be shed in the Middle East? Whys should you antagonise the people of the Arab world the Muslim world.
COLIN POWELL AT UN MEETING: So many would rather not have to face this issue but it's an issue that must be faced. And that is whether or not it's time to consider serious consequences of the kind intended by 1441.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI ON TELEPHONE IN OFFICE (Translation): Its so cloudy today and its snowing, but I feel Im in Florida after hearing this news, with sunshine and clear skies. Youre just fantastic. No, Ill tell you something nice. The summit of the European Union, like Chirac, Blair and all of them, all EU leaders held a meeting yesterday and said they want a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue because the European peoples want that. Such beautiful words. Because the people want that we are committed to it. Were so busy, but because of the snow the Security Council meeting was put off till this afternoon.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Well, the Council has unfortunately been cancelled. The session for the council for the morning session has been cancelled because of the snowstorm in New York. Apparently, even the snow can stop the Council from meeting. Maybe nobody can stop it, but nature can.
MARK DAVIS: Mahmassani is putting the final touches on his speech, which he will deliver to the Security Council in a few hours when the blizzard stops. It's an unenviable task trying to write a single speech that encapsulates the voices of the Arab League. Like other international institutions, cracks are appearing under the weight of the Iraq issue. With the exception of Kuwait, virtually all of the Arab League's 22 members, gathering here in Cairo, are opposed to the war, but many of them have good reason not to make too much noise about it. Some like Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia all play host to US forces. Others like Jordan are heavily reliant upon US intelligence and military aid. The more radical members, Syria, Libya and Sudan, are reluctant to be seen to be provoking the United States. Each of them harbours fears that America may target them next. Mahmassani is probably freer than any of them to speak bluntly.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: So the more aggressive, the more challenging the questions are, the more inciting and the more challenging for me, this is why I don't like the interviews. I like challenge, I like tough questions. I enjoy tough questions because I know how to answer them.
MARK DAVIS: Over three days, I questioned Mahmassani about the credibility and effectiveness of Arab nations in this current crisis, and the impression that they are divided or compromised on the issue.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Nobody wants war.
REPORTER: But nobody wants Saddam Hussein either.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: This is not the question. This is not the question. This is not the question. The question is, are there weapons of mass destruction. This is the issue that the United Nations is facing. And Iraq. And if there is no weapons of mass destruction, then why do you want to go and attack Iraq? This is the issue in the United Nations.
REPORTER: But even among the Arab nations or the Arab nations particularly, they've been the most mute about Iraq and Saddam Hussein. This is coming from Europe.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Again, I will tell you that the issue that threatens the Arab nation now is a war on Iraq, in addition to Israel's occupation of Arab territory. Israel has stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.
REPORTER: That's well and good, but where are the Arab nations now when we're talking about Iraq? It's French, it's Germans. What are the Arab nations doing?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: The Arab nations are strongly, solidly united against a war on Iraq. It's for sure. There's no question about it. But the media, of course, highlights Chirac and Schroeder and Blair. The highlights now are coming from the Europeans because the Europeans are more influential and effective in the Security Council.
REPORTER: There's also criticism from various Arab nations that their own governments aren't representing them strongly enough on this issue.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Come on, this is talk. How can you say this? How can one say this? There are elections in the Arab countries and they think a peaceful solution is the best solution for the region and for the whole world. I think now you are about to get off because you cannot go in.
REPORTER: This is as far as I can go, huh?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: That's as far as you can go.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI AT UN MEETING (Translation): Insisting on waging war against Iraq when inspections are in progress to ensure Iraqs elimination of weapons o fmass destruction raises questions as to whether the real aim of the war is the removal of WMDs or whether there are other aims and intentions.
MARK DAVIS: One of the fears of the Arab nations is that America harbours a broader agenda to reshape the entire region. - an agenda given new impetus by their war on terror and their conviction that several Arab League members are harbouring or ignoring violent fundamentalist groups within their borders.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: The Arab League and the 22 members of the Arab League have already signed a convention to combat terrorism. We have our own convention to combat terrorism. And we have cooperated with the United Nations and with the Americans and with the Europeans on targeting and hunting a lot of those terrorists. For example, the last incident in Yemen where a terrorist was killed. It was done, of course, through Arab intelligence. So in general, I can very clearly say that the Arabs are cooperating in the process, in the campaign to combat terrorism via the United Nations. You know, it's not only the United States that has to fight terrorism. It's the United Nations. This is the legal authority, the international authority.
JOHN DOUTH, AUSTRALIAN UN AMBASSADOR AT UN MEETING: It is patently clear by the criteria established under 1441 that Iraq is in further material breach of its obligations.
MARK DAVIS: Australia's ambassador to the UN, John Douth, addresses the Security Council immediately before Mahmassani. They've become a fitting double act at the UN and in the media, presenting two very divergent sides of the debate.
JOHN DOUTH: Australia found the intelligence presented by Secretary Powell compelling.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: You want the resolution simply to go to war. That's why you want the resolution.
MARK DAVIS: Mahmassani can speak for Arab leaders who publicly need to be more diplomatic in their criticism of America.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI ON TV PROGRAM: Why are you in a hurry to go to war and bring that destruction to the area?
MARK DAVIS: And Australia increasingly seen as a active champion for the war, can present an American message with a different accent.
JOHN DOUTH ON TV PROGRAM: What I want is Iraq to comply with its obligations.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Now, let me ask you this. Your country Australia is sending boats and sending soldiers. Where is the threat? Where is the imminent threat that Iraq poses to you? Let me tell you, why do you have to spill the Australian blood and Arab blood on Iraqi territory? Why? What interest do you have? Why do you want to organise the whole Arab world against you? Why? Is there a reason for this? Does it serve your interest?
MARK DAVIS: As the diplomatic chess game plays itself out, other business at the UN goes on, like this committee on the ongoing question of Palestine. The issue of Palestine and Israel lies at the heart of virtually every Arab response to the question of Iraq's transgressions of UN resolutions.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: If you are saying that they're a threat by weapons of mass destruction, what about Israel? In our region, we come from the region. We are the region. We are the region. We know what threatens us. Israel has nuclear weapons, chemical weapons and biological weapons, and they have them in stockpiles. Why doesn't anybody mention Israel?
MARK DAVIS: This committee will pass more resolutions, as it has for years, with little result. But there will be no media attention here. The main game is down the hall. It soon becomes clear that the numbers are not going America's way. The US begins to speak privately to various nations about introducing a new resolution to give America and its allies a pretext for military action. They'll need smart wording and the support of nine of the 15 Security Council members. It's a move which Mahmassani needs to try to head off. The Syrian ambassador Mikal Wehbe, become a key player in the move against the new UN resolution. He's one of a group of 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council who are being courted by Colin Powell. It is a rare event to overhear lobby conversations at the UN, but it's here, not the formal debating chambers, that the real work is done. For nations like Syria, there is a greater issue at stake here than just Iraq. All the Arab nations are acutely aware of America's implied threats to reshape all of the Middle East. Iraq, they fear, may just be the first.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: You can't just choose a state and go and attack it just because you don't like the ruler or don't like the system. That's unfair. Today it's Iraq. Tomorrow, who's next?
MARK DAVIS: Iraq's ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri is looking for information on Powell's latest moves.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI speaking to YAHYA MAHMASSANI (Translation): They have a problem?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: They do.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: They may have a problem, but how will it be solved?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: I think that this is Australian television filming.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Hi how are you?
REPORTER: Good thanks.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI (Translation): You know Australia is working for them now? Its lobbying Security Council members.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: But the people oppose it.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Yes, I know. (SPEAKING TO REPORTER) You know that, your people you are working for a new resolution?
REPORTER: The Australians?
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Yes, the Australians. They're working very hard now.
REPORTER: Are they pushing?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: For war.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Yes, yes. Yes, yes. Yes. They are complaining now on the behalf of the United States. So the ambassador here, His Excellency what is his name? John Douth. He is campaigning now on behalf of the Australian government.
REPORTER: How is he campaigning? Who is he...
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Well, he's now make a round of all people here, especially members of the Security Council, etc., etc.. Campaigning.
REPORTER: Do you think there's any chance that people will change their minds? Or is everybody's position set?
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Where?
REPORTER: Here, at the UN. Can he persuade people on Iraq?
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Well, there is ongoing processing. The Australian stand and the Security Council was very clear and very tough against Iraq and you can say he is talking like Mr Blair on behalf of the United States. So the similarity is very clear between Mr Blair and Mr... your PM what's his name? Brown?
REPORTER: Howard.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Howard, Howard. Yeah. He took a very tough position, yes.
MARK DAVIS: A virtual mini-council of the Arab League - Egyptians, Lebanese, Iraqis - gather outside the members lounge to discuss the shape of America's new resolution. Keen to hear the news from Security Council member, Syria's Mikal Wehbe.
MIKAL WEHBE, SYRIAN UN AMBASSADOR (Translation): The British and the Americans have a problem with this point. I asked Tafrov, he said one wants it a bit softer, but the other wants to stick to the same format. If he is recording
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Its all right.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: No, thats all right.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: What were we saying anyway?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: No secrecy at the UN.
MIKAL WEHBE: The US considers that a material breach is an excuse for taking military action. This was their legal explanation in 1998, which was distributed to us recently. Thats why theyre focusing now on this material breach and the last chance and grave consequences. He wants any excuse to go ahead.
REPORTER: Ambassador, can I get one more comment off you, sir? America has made it clear that they think the Middle East is politically a mess - its dictatorial nations, tyrannical regimes. Clearly they do have an agenda...
MIKAL WEHBE: I think this responsibility is not the responsibility neither of America nor of the Security Council to indulge themselves with the political life and regimes or systems of these countries. Whatever it is, should be left to the people themselves of that area.
REPORTER: Can the people themselves express themselves?
MIKAL WEHBE: They can. As any kind... as any sort of people in the world. OK? Thank you.
MARK DAVIS: Few people would portray the Arab world as a model of democracy. A point which Mahmassani bristles at.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: First of all, why pick on the Arabs? This is absolutely not correct to say tyrannical, to say This is not true. We all have elections. There are kingdoms with the consent of the people.
MARK DAVIS: But democracies or not, there are still other rights and other issues at play for him in the coming weeks.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Nobody has the right, whoever it is, big power or any other power, nobody has the right to impose its desires, its interests among other people. This is something that goes to the 18th century. This is something that goes to the era before 1939. Again, we should not inflame this whole world with conflicts. The 21st century should be a century of peace, not a century of wars. Igniting war now, it will never end.
MARK DAVIS: UN headquarters, New York, as Hans Blix delivers his second weapons inspection report on Iraq. It will be responded to by 15 members of the Security Council and through the week, 191 other nations - each with their own message. And each message will be massaged and retuned for a home audience. Still more voices come from a few protesters nearby, keeping constant vigil.
MAN IN STREET: I would like to see the flag hung upside down as a sign for the anti-war movement in this country. Because according to the...
SECOND MAN IN STREET: Go somewhere else if you don't like this country!
MAN IN STREET: I love this country.
SECOND MAN IN STREET: My father died for that flag. People are cruel.
MARK DAVIS: One report - a thousand points of view. We follow one of those perspectives in this program through the eyes of Yahya Mahmassani, Arab League ambassador to the United Nations. Mahmassani, a career diplomat, now the Arab world's representative in this critical week.
COLIN POWELL AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: Enough. We will not tolerate Iraq continuing to have weapons of mass destruction to be used against...
MARK DAVIS: One by one, each country gives their response to the Iraqi crisis. It soon becomes clear which side of the debate the bulk of delegates will be supporting.
FRENCH UN AMBASSADOR (Translation): Using force would have such grave consequences for people, for the region and for international stability, that it must only be regarded as a very last resort.
MARK DAVIS: The normally sober Security Council continually erupting with applause after responses.
SPEAKER: I have to call to order the audience - it is not allowed to applause here in the Security Council.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI, ARAB LEAGUE UN AMBASSADOR: I am an old hand here. I have been here a long time to tell you. I was here in the '60s, the '70s. This is the first time that diplomats representing sovereign states applaud another statesman in the Security Council. And the message is clear. The public opinion of diplomats is not to go to war.
MARK DAVIS: Applause may be encouraging, but Iraq's ambassador here, Mohammed Aldouri knows that it won't be enough to stop a war. Iraq has been critical of some of its fellow Arab League members for their apparent ambivalence in opposing the war. But Mahmassani maintains that the Arab position is clear and strong and bewildered as to why countries like Australia would want to be involved.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: What threat does Iraq pose to those countries beyond the seven seas? Why should Australia be threatened by Iraq? Is there a threat by Iraq to Australia? None whatsoever. Why should Australian blood be shed in the Middle East? Whys should you antagonise the people of the Arab world the Muslim world.
COLIN POWELL AT UN MEETING: So many would rather not have to face this issue but it's an issue that must be faced. And that is whether or not it's time to consider serious consequences of the kind intended by 1441.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI ON TELEPHONE IN OFFICE (Translation): Its so cloudy today and its snowing, but I feel Im in Florida after hearing this news, with sunshine and clear skies. Youre just fantastic. No, Ill tell you something nice. The summit of the European Union, like Chirac, Blair and all of them, all EU leaders held a meeting yesterday and said they want a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue because the European peoples want that. Such beautiful words. Because the people want that we are committed to it. Were so busy, but because of the snow the Security Council meeting was put off till this afternoon.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Well, the Council has unfortunately been cancelled. The session for the council for the morning session has been cancelled because of the snowstorm in New York. Apparently, even the snow can stop the Council from meeting. Maybe nobody can stop it, but nature can.
MARK DAVIS: Mahmassani is putting the final touches on his speech, which he will deliver to the Security Council in a few hours when the blizzard stops. It's an unenviable task trying to write a single speech that encapsulates the voices of the Arab League. Like other international institutions, cracks are appearing under the weight of the Iraq issue. With the exception of Kuwait, virtually all of the Arab League's 22 members, gathering here in Cairo, are opposed to the war, but many of them have good reason not to make too much noise about it. Some like Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia all play host to US forces. Others like Jordan are heavily reliant upon US intelligence and military aid. The more radical members, Syria, Libya and Sudan, are reluctant to be seen to be provoking the United States. Each of them harbours fears that America may target them next. Mahmassani is probably freer than any of them to speak bluntly.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: So the more aggressive, the more challenging the questions are, the more inciting and the more challenging for me, this is why I don't like the interviews. I like challenge, I like tough questions. I enjoy tough questions because I know how to answer them.
MARK DAVIS: Over three days, I questioned Mahmassani about the credibility and effectiveness of Arab nations in this current crisis, and the impression that they are divided or compromised on the issue.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Nobody wants war.
REPORTER: But nobody wants Saddam Hussein either.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: This is not the question. This is not the question. This is not the question. The question is, are there weapons of mass destruction. This is the issue that the United Nations is facing. And Iraq. And if there is no weapons of mass destruction, then why do you want to go and attack Iraq? This is the issue in the United Nations.
REPORTER: But even among the Arab nations or the Arab nations particularly, they've been the most mute about Iraq and Saddam Hussein. This is coming from Europe.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Again, I will tell you that the issue that threatens the Arab nation now is a war on Iraq, in addition to Israel's occupation of Arab territory. Israel has stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.
REPORTER: That's well and good, but where are the Arab nations now when we're talking about Iraq? It's French, it's Germans. What are the Arab nations doing?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: The Arab nations are strongly, solidly united against a war on Iraq. It's for sure. There's no question about it. But the media, of course, highlights Chirac and Schroeder and Blair. The highlights now are coming from the Europeans because the Europeans are more influential and effective in the Security Council.
REPORTER: There's also criticism from various Arab nations that their own governments aren't representing them strongly enough on this issue.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Come on, this is talk. How can you say this? How can one say this? There are elections in the Arab countries and they think a peaceful solution is the best solution for the region and for the whole world. I think now you are about to get off because you cannot go in.
REPORTER: This is as far as I can go, huh?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: That's as far as you can go.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI AT UN MEETING (Translation): Insisting on waging war against Iraq when inspections are in progress to ensure Iraqs elimination of weapons o fmass destruction raises questions as to whether the real aim of the war is the removal of WMDs or whether there are other aims and intentions.
MARK DAVIS: One of the fears of the Arab nations is that America harbours a broader agenda to reshape the entire region. - an agenda given new impetus by their war on terror and their conviction that several Arab League members are harbouring or ignoring violent fundamentalist groups within their borders.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: The Arab League and the 22 members of the Arab League have already signed a convention to combat terrorism. We have our own convention to combat terrorism. And we have cooperated with the United Nations and with the Americans and with the Europeans on targeting and hunting a lot of those terrorists. For example, the last incident in Yemen where a terrorist was killed. It was done, of course, through Arab intelligence. So in general, I can very clearly say that the Arabs are cooperating in the process, in the campaign to combat terrorism via the United Nations. You know, it's not only the United States that has to fight terrorism. It's the United Nations. This is the legal authority, the international authority.
JOHN DOUTH, AUSTRALIAN UN AMBASSADOR AT UN MEETING: It is patently clear by the criteria established under 1441 that Iraq is in further material breach of its obligations.
MARK DAVIS: Australia's ambassador to the UN, John Douth, addresses the Security Council immediately before Mahmassani. They've become a fitting double act at the UN and in the media, presenting two very divergent sides of the debate.
JOHN DOUTH: Australia found the intelligence presented by Secretary Powell compelling.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: You want the resolution simply to go to war. That's why you want the resolution.
MARK DAVIS: Mahmassani can speak for Arab leaders who publicly need to be more diplomatic in their criticism of America.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI ON TV PROGRAM: Why are you in a hurry to go to war and bring that destruction to the area?
MARK DAVIS: And Australia increasingly seen as a active champion for the war, can present an American message with a different accent.
JOHN DOUTH ON TV PROGRAM: What I want is Iraq to comply with its obligations.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Now, let me ask you this. Your country Australia is sending boats and sending soldiers. Where is the threat? Where is the imminent threat that Iraq poses to you? Let me tell you, why do you have to spill the Australian blood and Arab blood on Iraqi territory? Why? What interest do you have? Why do you want to organise the whole Arab world against you? Why? Is there a reason for this? Does it serve your interest?
MARK DAVIS: As the diplomatic chess game plays itself out, other business at the UN goes on, like this committee on the ongoing question of Palestine. The issue of Palestine and Israel lies at the heart of virtually every Arab response to the question of Iraq's transgressions of UN resolutions.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: If you are saying that they're a threat by weapons of mass destruction, what about Israel? In our region, we come from the region. We are the region. We are the region. We know what threatens us. Israel has nuclear weapons, chemical weapons and biological weapons, and they have them in stockpiles. Why doesn't anybody mention Israel?
MARK DAVIS: This committee will pass more resolutions, as it has for years, with little result. But there will be no media attention here. The main game is down the hall. It soon becomes clear that the numbers are not going America's way. The US begins to speak privately to various nations about introducing a new resolution to give America and its allies a pretext for military action. They'll need smart wording and the support of nine of the 15 Security Council members. It's a move which Mahmassani needs to try to head off. The Syrian ambassador Mikal Wehbe, become a key player in the move against the new UN resolution. He's one of a group of 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council who are being courted by Colin Powell. It is a rare event to overhear lobby conversations at the UN, but it's here, not the formal debating chambers, that the real work is done. For nations like Syria, there is a greater issue at stake here than just Iraq. All the Arab nations are acutely aware of America's implied threats to reshape all of the Middle East. Iraq, they fear, may just be the first.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: You can't just choose a state and go and attack it just because you don't like the ruler or don't like the system. That's unfair. Today it's Iraq. Tomorrow, who's next?
MARK DAVIS: Iraq's ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri is looking for information on Powell's latest moves.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI speaking to YAHYA MAHMASSANI (Translation): They have a problem?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: They do.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: They may have a problem, but how will it be solved?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: I think that this is Australian television filming.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Hi how are you?
REPORTER: Good thanks.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI (Translation): You know Australia is working for them now? Its lobbying Security Council members.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: But the people oppose it.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Yes, I know. (SPEAKING TO REPORTER) You know that, your people you are working for a new resolution?
REPORTER: The Australians?
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Yes, the Australians. They're working very hard now.
REPORTER: Are they pushing?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: For war.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Yes, yes. Yes, yes. Yes. They are complaining now on the behalf of the United States. So the ambassador here, His Excellency what is his name? John Douth. He is campaigning now on behalf of the Australian government.
REPORTER: How is he campaigning? Who is he...
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Well, he's now make a round of all people here, especially members of the Security Council, etc., etc.. Campaigning.
REPORTER: Do you think there's any chance that people will change their minds? Or is everybody's position set?
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Where?
REPORTER: Here, at the UN. Can he persuade people on Iraq?
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Well, there is ongoing processing. The Australian stand and the Security Council was very clear and very tough against Iraq and you can say he is talking like Mr Blair on behalf of the United States. So the similarity is very clear between Mr Blair and Mr... your PM what's his name? Brown?
REPORTER: Howard.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Howard, Howard. Yeah. He took a very tough position, yes.
MARK DAVIS: A virtual mini-council of the Arab League - Egyptians, Lebanese, Iraqis - gather outside the members lounge to discuss the shape of America's new resolution. Keen to hear the news from Security Council member, Syria's Mikal Wehbe.
MIKAL WEHBE, SYRIAN UN AMBASSADOR (Translation): The British and the Americans have a problem with this point. I asked Tafrov, he said one wants it a bit softer, but the other wants to stick to the same format. If he is recording
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: Its all right.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: No, thats all right.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI: What were we saying anyway?
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: No secrecy at the UN.
MIKAL WEHBE: The US considers that a material breach is an excuse for taking military action. This was their legal explanation in 1998, which was distributed to us recently. Thats why theyre focusing now on this material breach and the last chance and grave consequences. He wants any excuse to go ahead.
REPORTER: Ambassador, can I get one more comment off you, sir? America has made it clear that they think the Middle East is politically a mess - its dictatorial nations, tyrannical regimes. Clearly they do have an agenda...
MIKAL WEHBE: I think this responsibility is not the responsibility neither of America nor of the Security Council to indulge themselves with the political life and regimes or systems of these countries. Whatever it is, should be left to the people themselves of that area.
REPORTER: Can the people themselves express themselves?
MIKAL WEHBE: They can. As any kind... as any sort of people in the world. OK? Thank you.
MARK DAVIS: Few people would portray the Arab world as a model of democracy. A point which Mahmassani bristles at.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: First of all, why pick on the Arabs? This is absolutely not correct to say tyrannical, to say This is not true. We all have elections. There are kingdoms with the consent of the people.
MARK DAVIS: But democracies or not, there are still other rights and other issues at play for him in the coming weeks.
YAHYA MAHMASSANI: Nobody has the right, whoever it is, big power or any other power, nobody has the right to impose its desires, its interests among other people. This is something that goes to the 18th century. This is something that goes to the era before 1939. Again, we should not inflame this whole world with conflicts. The 21st century should be a century of peace, not a century of wars. Igniting war now, it will never end.