U.N. Inspectors Fail to Win Key Iraq Concessions

Washingtonpost.com ^ | Feb. 10, 2003 | Rajiv Chandrasekaran

[Ganndy]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 9 -- The top U.N. arms experts said tonight that they were unable to reach agreement with Saddam Hussein's government on several key issues they had traveled here to resolve in a bid to build support for continuing weapons inspections.

The two chief U.N. inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, failed to achieve three top goals during two days of meetings with senior Iraqi officials: the disclosure of significant new evidence about Iraq's past weapons programs, safety guarantees from Iraq for reconnaissance aircraft to aid in inspections; and a high-level declaration criminalizing the production of nuclear, chemical or biological arms.....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48929-2003Feb9.html

[Ganndy]

I didn't see this posted anywhere...

Out

[PhiKapMom]

This article sure didn't match their press conference this afternoon! They should have waited to meet the press until the inspectors were out of Iraq!

Those two numbskulls are absolutely worthless and gave the impression Saddam was opening his heart in cooperation and they were pleased.

[TXnMA]

"Out"

I agree: that is precisely where this behavior will put Sodom Hissyfit and his regime -- Out!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Numbskulls is right.

They are probably afraid if they didn't coo prettily for Sadaam, he might not let them back out.

[virgil]

Yep, they made it seem like there was some big breakthrough, I think most people were not "convinced". Its just more stalling.

[Aaron0617]

Those two numbskulls are absolutely worthless and gave the impression Saddam was opening his heart in cooperation and they were pleased.

Then what is it? Is Saddam cooperating or not?

All day I've heard, Iraq has made a 'change of heart'. Also, some paperwork for WMD was given to Blix.

Now I've seen two articles on FR that Iraq is NOT cooperating. Which is it?

[thefoyboy]

I'll be watching for fireworks over Baghdad by my birthday...oh wait, when is the next new moon? I select the day for the 'Big Show' to begin.

[PhiKapMom]

I can understand not wanting to make Iraqi's mad while in Country but they went way overboard with their praise IMHO and, in fact, got some of the women reporters all in a tither thinking everything had been solved.

Numbskulls is all I could think of at the moment!

[Aaron0617]

Wait. I did hear Iraq was considering allowing U2 flights and would have a decision by Friday. Which makes perfect sense.

You have an army building to invade you. So, you wait a full week to think about one of their demands. I think the exact words were: "We have one of our technicians working on it. Its very complicated."

[PhiKapMom]

Beats me! Everything you have stated is what I saw as well! I knew Saddam was lying but you could have fooled me that they (numbskulls) didn't think Iraq was cooperating.

[guitfiddlist]

The two chief U.N. inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, failed to achieve three top goals ....

I guess the breathlessly-announced sudden "breakthrough" was the ditching of all three top goals by these UN dipwads - for the cause of whirled peas.

[PhiKapMom]

I wasn't convinced at all!

I loved the Government official from Spain that was on Fox -- the anchor asked him what he thought and he succinctly put it about Saddam -- "HE LIES!"

[Aaron0617]

The two chief U.N. inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, failed to achieve three top goals ....

How can you fly all the way to Iraq.(probably on US's dime) Talk to Iraq for TWO FRIGGIN DAYS and come away with nothing.

Now these two idiots still yap about needing more time.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Getting some of those reporters in a tither about that isn't all too hard.

A gentle belch might have sufficed for that purpose.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, failed to achieve three top goals during two days of meetings with senior Iraqi officials: the disclosure of significant new evidence about Iraq's past weapons programs, safety guarantees from Iraq for reconnaissance aircraft to aid in inspections; and a high-level declaration criminalizing the production of nuclear, chemical or biological arms.....

Nah........you think?????????? Gosh I wonder what went wrong.

[WarHawk42]

Numbskulls is all I could think of at the moment!

I could think of a lot more but this is a public forum.:)

Saddam will continue to play his games and the UN will fall for it.  It's a familiar pattern.  We need to do what has to be done, with or without the UN.

[Sacajaweau]

U-2 flights: Yes or no doesn't seem complicated. It's not like defining "Is".

[PhiKapMom]

ROFLOL!!! I can only imagine!

Making the UN irrelevant may be the best thing that comes out of all of this IMO!

[Live free or die]

What part of unconditional do we not get here? I'm confused.

[WarHawk42]

If it gets us out of the UN and the UN out of this country that is certainly
a bright spot in all of this.