US scorns Saddam offer, moves stealth fighters closer

The Bush Administration is accelerating preparations for a military attack on Iraq, ridiculing its offer of unconditional weapons inspections and ignoring United Nations moves for a quick return of inspectors.

And in response to a call by President George Bush for world leaders not to be fooled by Saddam Hussein's apparent backdown, the Prime Minister, John Howard, yesterday toughened his criticism of the Iraqi offer, calling it "nothing more than a diplomatic ploy".

"There was no undertaking to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions. There was no commitment to allow inspectors full and unfettered access. There was no capacity to disarm, which would include full disclosure of its illegal weapons."

Australia also backed the US call for the UN to make new demands of Iraq - a position which has split the Security Council and could lead to Washington taking unilateral military action against Iraq.

The US indicated that it would seek within weeks congressional approval for a military strike. It has also reportedly sought approval from Britain to move B2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, within range of Iraq.

The Iraqi offer has also shattered the new alliance between the US, France and Russia, which are now arguing over how best to proceed against Saddam.

Russia and the US clashed over whether the UN still needed to pass a tough resolution to force Iraq to comply with the demands of the international community.

Russia's Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, told a press conference in New York: "We don't need any special resolution. All the resolutions we need, we already have."

The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, strongly disagreed, saying: "We've seen this game before." He said the Security Council should pass a "tough resolution. If they [the Iraqis] are serious, they will want one".

The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, who was sitting between the two men, pleaded for unity, saying this was what had forced Saddam to open his borders to inspectors.

France did not attend the press conference, but a Foreign Ministry spokesman said the UN should send inspectors back in.

"We must let Saddam Hussein's words speak for themselves," Francois Rivasseau told Europe-1 radio. "We must not lose time. Act quickly. Send in the inspectors."

The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Dr Naji Sabri, said in New York that his country wanted a smooth resumption of inspections, with "no pressure, so we can finish this job quickly". UN sanctions should be lifted as soon as the inspectors finished their work.

But the US does not believe Iraq is serious about allowing unfettered access, with Mr Powell saying that "to keep the pressure on, we need a new road, a different road ... with tough conditions, tough standards".

Saddam had only agreed to inspectors because "the entire international community came together and said this is unacceptable. Enormous pressure was put on Iraq as a result and Iraq reacted to that pressure".

Mr Bush, who was campaigning in Tennessee, said: "The United States must not and will not allow the world's worst leaders to hold the United States and our friends and allies to blackmail or threaten us with the world's worst weapons."

Mr Annan acknowledged the US position, saying that "given the history, there are member states who feel that we should not return to business as usual, and that we should take steps to ensure that the inspectors are able to go about their work unimpeded".

Arab nations which had deserted Iraq earlier this week are now supporting Baghdad.

The Eygptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Maher, said a resolution was not necessary, adding that the UN should concentrate on "implementing what Iraq has accepted - the return of the inspectors". Jordan said Iraq's decision was "wise".

China, despite being among the last to join the US campaign, appeared reluctant to leave the camp, with its official news agency saying only that it "hopes that Iraq will comprehensively implement the UN resolutions to create the necessary conditions for the orderly and peaceful resolution of the Iraq issue".

The UN's chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, said after meeting Iraqi representatives that he could have inspectors "on the ground within days".

Dr Blix also gave Iraq a list of "practicalities" before inspectors could begin work, but in what may be an ominous sign Iraq replied that it needed time to consult the list.

Dr Blix will meet the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammed Aldouri, today and further talks will be held in Vienna from September 30.

"U.S. Scorns Saddam's offer..."

Absolutely! Its time to get very SNIPPY with Saddam.

Saddam's offer to accept inspections was never made in earnest anyway. Even if inspectors had gotten in to Iraq, how long until they would have been turned away at some sensitive point Saddam DIDN'T want looked at? And what would be the upshot then? We would still have to go in to enforce the terms anyway. Iraq must be disarmed, either voluntarily, or by physically taking away their means to wage war.

Disarm, Saddam, or take the consequences.

B2 are bombers not fighters. Apperently the headline writer not only doesn't know the difference but can't even read the copy.

Mr Powell saying that "to keep the pressure on, we need a new road, a different road ... with tough conditions, tough standards".

Does he mean literally or figuratively? Are blown up roads considered new?

tick . . . tick . . . tick

It has also reportedly sought approval from Britain to move B2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, within range of Iraq.

According to Fox News last nite, this won't occur for 4 or 5 months because Diego Garcia lacks the appropriate hangar space right now. Doesn't matter. We've done MidEast missions from Missouri before, and can do it again if need be.

"According to Fox News last nite, this won't occur for 4 or 5 months because Diego Garcia lacks the appropriate hangar space."

Then Faux News MISSED the part of the story that said that the Diego Garcia base had plenty of room for TEMPORARY climate-controlled hangars to be erected - a procedure that takes about 30 days.

You ARE correct when you add that we've done mid-east missions with them before and we can again. It's just that the delay won't be "months."

Michael

I heard that Aziz has stated that the inspectors should not act like spies because that was why they were kicked out in the first place.

HELLO? A spy would want to see where the weapons were. Wouldn't you know it!... so would an inspector.

GWB is obviously telling the UN, "yeah, yeah, go ahead a discuss conditions for sending in inspectors or whatever makes you happy, just don't bother us because we're getting ready to go to war. Expect a phone call in a few days. We'll let you know when it's time to get your inspectors out of the way."

B2 are bombers not fighters. Apperently the headline writer not only doesn't know the difference but can't even read the copy.

The assorted media are fairly ignorant about the military and show as much on a regular basis.

I think something like this might help illustrate the Iraqui ploy:

Tell the UN, go ahead, right away, inspect the hospitals, "palaces," the civilian "laboratories" etc - just some of the places they hide these things.. Go there first, especially the one's the Iraqui's try to put off limit.

After all the inspections are "unconditional" yes?

As it becomes obvious they aren't and they can't, Kofi can eat his statement.

I understood that B2s are stationed in Missouri for the foreseeable future due to the excessive support infrastructure they require.

The assorted media are fairly ignorant about the military

Don't stop there. A shorter list might be what they are knowledgeable about. Baseball stats, history of movie stars, political poll results [but not statistics as a science.] What else?

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