On Tuesday, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzia stated that Western countries have not been held accountable for war crimes committed in Iraq.
Overview
In a press conference, Nebenzia noted that “nobody paid real responsibility for the crimes committed in Iraq” as it was “never properly investigated.” “To think that there will be something like a tribunal on the Iraqi war would be a little bit unrealistic,” he remarked.
There are so many crimes committed which are pretended to be non-existent at all as if nothing had happened. "This is the hypocrisy of the policies of some of our partners, including here in the Security Council," the Russian diplomat added.
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) February 8, 2023
Nebenzia further pointed out the “hypocrisy” of Moscow’s fellow UN Security Council (UNSC) members, claiming that despite questions, many war crimes committed in Iraq are “pretended to be nonexistent [...] as if nothing had happened.”
Biden Vows to Confront Russia
Nebenzia’s comments came against the backdrop of US President Joe Biden vowing to not allow “would-be aggressors” to threaten global security and prosperity, in reference to Russia’s “brutal war [and] murderous assault” on Ukraine, in his second State of the Union Address on Tuesday.
Biden went on to call Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion a threat to the US and the world, noting that Americans are “united” in their support for Ukraine.
One year ago, I reported to the nation just days after Vladimir Putin unleashed an unprovoked war against Ukraine.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 8, 2023
It was a test for the world: would we stand for the defense of democracy?
Today, we know the answer.
Yes, we would.
Powell’s Lies
During a UNSC meeting on 5 February, 2003, then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell claimed that former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was producing chemical weapons, after showing a test tube containing some white powder to the Council. This, he asserted, warranted launching a war against Baghdad.
However, Russia did not find the test tube to be adequate evidence of the US’ claims. Thus, no resolution was held. Nonetheless, the US and the UK went on to invade Iraq without the international community’s consent on 20 March, 2003.
17/. “The evidence is irrefutable. Colin Powell consciously deceived the world”
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) February 5, 2023
In his hour-long speech, he mentioned WMDs 17 times, presented fabricated evidence, talked about a nuclear program & links with Al Qaeda & he left out v important informationhttps://t.co/Kr21H3BgDs
Eventually, no chemical weapons of mass destruction were found in the country, with Powell later admitting that the test tube he had shown was fake.
Russia Demands Accountability
On Sunday, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko asserted that Powell’s “outrageous lie that led to a terrible catastrophe” should be rediscussed at the UN, as the “crime has no statute of limitations.”
“We should not allow those who made these decisions to escape the court of history,” Matviyenko argued.
Deputy FM Sergey #Ryabkov:
— Russian Embassy, NZ (@rusembnz) February 5, 2023
💬The image of Colin Powell showing a test tube became a personification of hypocrisy & the US ruling elite’s conviction in their own impunity, their indisputable right to arrogantly teach the rest of the world using force.
🔗 https://t.co/LNzvVnFhpD pic.twitter.com/JClmG3qbbk
Similarly, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin stated, “The UN should investigate Washington’s crimes against humanity,” adding, “The politicians who made the decisions should be punished for the millions of victims, refugees, broken destinies, destroyed states.”