Nelson Mandela critical of President Bush's Leadership by Sally Sara in Johannesburg ABC News Online 6:39pm 31st Jan, 2003   Friday, January 31, 2003    LINDA MOTTRAM: The former South African President Nelson Mandela has weighed very heavily into the Iraq debate, with a withering attack on US President George W. Bush.    In a humiliating broadside, Mr Mandela has branded President Bush a leader without foresight who can't think properly and the veteran of the fight against apartheid has sided with those who say that the President's proposed war is about gaining control ofIraq's oil reserves.    Africa Correspondent Sally Sara reports from Johannesburg.    SALLY SARA: Nelson Mandela has thrown his shadow over President Bush's threats to go to war. The former South African President often prefers to deliver criticism between the lines, but he's showing little mercy to the US leader.    Mr Mandela used a speech at a women's gathering in Johannesburg to attack Mr Bush. He says the United States is acting without the authority of the international community.    NELSON MANDELA: Who are they now to pretend that they are policemen? [inaudible]…[applause]    To want to decide for the people in Iraq, what they should do with their Government and with their leadership. What I am condemning, what I am condemning is that one power, with a President who has no foresight, who can not think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust.    SALLY SARA: Nelson Mandela says if the United States takes action with the support of the United Nations, he will endorse it, but he says the US shouldn't go it alone.    Mr Mandela is a difficult critic to dismiss. He occupies a unique position and enjoys unrivalled international respect and affection. In a practical sense, his voice isn't enough to stop any military action, but his highly personal and pointed attack has attracted attention. Mr Mandela is eager to stir up opposition to President Bush.    NELSON MANDELA: I hope that that opposition will one day make him understand that he has made the greatest mistake of his life in trying to bring about carnage and to police the world without any authority from the international body. It is something we have to condemn.    SALLY SARA: Mr Mandela accuses the United States of striding towards war to take control of Iraq's oil reserves, but he doesn't offer any proof to back up the allegation.    The former South African leader says a war in the Gulf would be devastating, not just to Iraq but to the whole Middle East.    Mr Mandela has been a persistent critic of possible military action, says the United States and Britain are undermining the United Nations. He says the US is acting with arrogance.    In his most strident remarks on Iraq so far, Nelson Mandela has cast aside his trademark restraint and delivered a direct message to President Bush.    This is Sally Sara in Johannesburg for AM. This is a transcript of AM broadcast at 08:00 AEST on local radio. ENDS.    "All Bush Wants is Iraqi Oil, Says Mandela"    Published on Thursday, January 30, 2003 by the Independent (Cape Town, South Africa)    Former president Nelson Mandela said on Thursday the United States was preparing to go to war because "George Bush wants to get hold of the Iraqi oil".    Former South African President Nelson Mandela lashed out at President George Bush's stance on Iraq January 30, 2003, saying the Texan had no foresight and could not think properly.    He was speaking in Johannesburg at the three-day International Women's Forum, which is being held in Africa for the first time.    Criticism of Bush dominated the former president's address as Mandela encouraged women throughout the world to be "bold with its leadership and condemn the looming war America is preparing for".    "The women's forum must make sure that all irregularities in the world are rectified. A war on Iraq is something we must condemn without reservation," the former president said.    "We must fight globalisation which is for the high and mighty... This is the task of the forum.    "All Bush wants is Iraqi oil, because Iraq produces 64 percent of oil and he wants to get hold of it.    "Bush is acting outside the United Nations and both he and (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair are undermining the United Nations, an organisation which was an idea sponsored by their predecessors."    Mandela also questioned whether the US was ignoring the UN because its secretary-general is black.    "Because they (America) are so arrogant, they killed innocent people in Japan during Hiroshima and Nagasaki," he said referring to the two atom bombs the US dropped on Japanese cities to end the Second World War.    'One power with a president who can't think properly, ... wants to plant the world into holocaust'    "If (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein was not carrying out the UN instructions and resolutions... I will support them (the UN) without resignation, but what I condemn is one power with a president who can't think properly... wants to plant the world into holocaust."    The elderly statesman said he was pleased that the people of the world, including Americans, were opposing the US government.    "He (Bush) is making the greatest mistake of his life by trying to cause carnage.    "Why does the United States behave so arrogantly... Their friend Israel has got weapons of mass destruction but because its their ally they won't ask the UN to get rid of it. They just want the (Iraqi) oil... We must expose this as much as possible." - Sapa    Copyright 2003 Independent Online Visit the related web page
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