Posted on 09/08/2002 7:38:00 PM PDT by blam
Let UN in or else, Bush critic warns Baghdad
By Amberin Zaman in Baghdad
(Filed: 09/09/2002)
Scott Ritter, the former chief UN weapons inspector who has long argued against war on Iraq, stunned Baghdad yesterday with a demand that inspection teams be allowed back immediately and unconditionally.
In an emotional speech to members of the Iraqi National Assembly Mr Ritter said this was the only way to avoid another war with America.
Appeal: Scott Ritter addresses the Iraqi National Assembly
"Let me be very clear, the only path towards peace is one that begins with Iraq agreeing to the immediate unconditional return of United Nations weapons inspectors," Mr Ritter told them.
"Iraq cannot attempt to link the return of weapons inspectors to any other issues regardless of justification. Unconditional return, unfettered access, this is the only acceptable option."
UN inspection teams left Iraq in December 1998, complaining of Iraqi non-compliance with them, shortly before a British-American bombing campaign began.
The inspectors have not been allowed back since then, with Baghdad claiming that they are spies. Mr Ritter resigned his post four years ago and has become a vocal critic of American policy on Iraq, saying the inspectors were used for espionage. He arrived in Baghdad at the weekend for a two-day visit.
Saddam Hussein's regime clearly hoped that the former US marine's presence in their capital would provide them with a public relations triumph.
In the event, at the end of his speech, the assembly members did not even applaud, a sure sign that they were not at all pleased with what he had told them.
The parliamentarians, an exotic mix of men in flowing gowns and elaborate turbans and brightly dressed women, listened with rapt attention as Mr Ritter prefaced his appeal for the return of the inspectors with a stinging attack against the Bush administration's plans to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
"The rhetoric of fear that is being disseminated by my government has not to date been backed up by hard facts that substantiate allegations that Iraq today is in the possession of weapons of mass destruction or has links to terror groups responsible for attacking the United States.
"It is impossible to come up with any scenario today that would justify military action against Iraq based upon its current behaviour."
In the face of evidence to the contrary, he said, he would be the first to enlist in a war against Iraq, saying he loved America "more than I love Iraq". Mr Ritter argued that Iraq had to allow the weapons inspectors back in if only to prove that the Bush administration was misinforming the US public.
Mr Ritter explained that the September 11 terrorist attacks had played a large part in exacerbating such fears among the American people. "Let the United States know that Iraq has the greatest sympathy for the suffering felt by those who lost their loved ones on September 11."
Taha Yassin Ramadan, the Iraqi vice-president, appeared unswayed by Mr Ritter's appeal.
Asked about the possibility of a US attack against his country, Mr Ramadan claimed that the Arab world and other countries would rush to Iraq's defence.
Mr Ritter, on the other hand, told The Telegraph that he believed Baghdad would back down. "Iraq has no other choice," he said.
Yup. Something smells. That sounds like something Colin Powell would say if he were there, huh?
What, no applause.
Hey Saddam, Ritter's a "little guy" and he fooled you, you stupid, arrogant bast***.
Sac
Yeah, the inspectors will find Hussein's mustard gas, his sarin, maybe his anthrax or camel pox. But the U.S. military will kill him and undo his government. What option does Hussein think he has here?
He thinks he's a modern day Hammarabi or some such.
One of two reasons.
1. Saddam feels like hes is boxed in and cannot lose face. He rather go down fighting than be systematically disarmed. A scary thought.
2. Saddam is badly misjudging Bush and thinks Bush is bluffing.
If he thinks Bush is bluffing, he's just stupid.
But I ask my rhetorical question more for fear of another possibility than out of any curiosity as to why Hussein won't do what's good for him. If Hussein stops feeling suicidal, or if actually gets his head out of his *ss, he will realize he has yet another opportunity to survive. He can accept another absurd round of inspections, wait until the world has grown tired of the invasion force on a hair trigger bit, and then hector and obstruct some more. Why is Bush considering allowing this to happen? If Bush really is going to demand some new inspectorate he's just asking for a fiasco.
Ever heard of the Logan Act? I didn't think so.
He is not now nor will he EVER be a member of the current administartion so he has NO DAMN BUSINESS going into another country, our enemy, and speaking on behalf of us.
It's against the law. He obviously has been turned.
IF, we find the weapons through renewed inspections, we'll take them away. If we don't, he will be overthrown by his own.
Either way, he loses.
The UN MUST take a stand or deem their resolution for inspections as having "0" meaning.
Sac
Absolutely the TRUTH.
I was wondering about this possibility only because it's being reported in the U.K. Telegraph that Bush's speech is going to include some sort of four week ultimatum for...wait for it...inspectors.
I don't know what to make of these reports. I hope Bush is not going to fritter away the opportunity he has now on fool's errands. So maybe he's going to demand something at the U.N. that Hussein will not accept. But even going down this road at all carries with it the prospect that Hussein will accept inspectors. The the U.S. will be in an awful position.
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