Both houses of the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed resolutions authorizing the U.S. to attack Iraq even without United Nations consent. The legislators insist, however, that diplomatic efforts must be made to obtain this consent. The votes were followed by militant war cries by both American and Iraqi officials. President Bush promised "no negotiations with Iraq… Its days as an outlaw state are nearing their end," while Iraq's Tarik Aziz said, "If America attacks, we will be ready within an hour."
Looking a little further ahead is Infrastructures Minister Effie Eitam (National Religious Party). Speaking with the B'Sheva newspaper this week, the Brig.-Gen. (res.) said,
"If the Iraqi issue ends, I see a possibility wherein the entire area of Jordan and Iraq become the area of two [different] countries. Today, each of them has a minority that is disrupting the entire region. I am referring to the Kurds [in Iraq] and the Palestinians. I foresee a situation in which the areas of Jordan and Iraq will be re-divided, and in each one a new country will be formed: A Palestinian state in most of Jordan's territory, and a Kurdish state. If a solution for the Kurds is found, tensions will decrease in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. If a solution is found for the Palestinians on the other side of the Jordan River, the tensions here will decrease. [This will form] a ring around Syria, made up of Israel, the new Jordan, the new Iraq, and Lebanon. All of them demand that Syria stop supporting Hizbullah. This will allow us to sign a peace agreement with Lebanon within a short time. [In short,] I see the defeat of the Iraqi regime as changing the entire Middle East."
Looking a little further ahead is Infrastructures Minister Effie Eitam (National Religious Party). Speaking with the B'Sheva newspaper this week, the Brig.-Gen. (res.) said,
"If the Iraqi issue ends, I see a possibility wherein the entire area of Jordan and Iraq become the area of two [different] countries. Today, each of them has a minority that is disrupting the entire region. I am referring to the Kurds [in Iraq] and the Palestinians. I foresee a situation in which the areas of Jordan and Iraq will be re-divided, and in each one a new country will be formed: A Palestinian state in most of Jordan's territory, and a Kurdish state. If a solution for the Kurds is found, tensions will decrease in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. If a solution is found for the Palestinians on the other side of the Jordan River, the tensions here will decrease. [This will form] a ring around Syria, made up of Israel, the new Jordan, the new Iraq, and Lebanon. All of them demand that Syria stop supporting Hizbullah. This will allow us to sign a peace agreement with Lebanon within a short time. [In short,] I see the defeat of the Iraqi regime as changing the entire Middle East."