Saddam defends palaces against arms inspectors (DEVIL IN THE DETAILS, PART 4)

The Times ^ | September 20, 2002 | James Bone

[MadIvan]

IRAQ and America were locked in confrontation last night as Saddam Hussein rejected US attempts to give weapons inspectors access to his presidential palaces. The Iraqi President told the UN he would accept inspectors on condition that they did not violate Iraq’s “rights, sovereignty, security”. The demand was immediately rejected by the US, which accused him of trying to “lure the world down the same dead-end road” it has travelled before.

The UN plans an early test of Saddam’s compliance. Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, told the Security Council that an advance party could arrive in Iraq on October 15 and conduct some inspections soon afterwards.

Earlier, it had emerged that Washington wants the inspectors to be given new powers to search Saddam’s eight presidential palaces. Under current rules of engagement, they have restricted access to the sprawling complexes.

President Bush stepped up the pressure for UN action by sending Congress a sweeping draft resolution demanding the power to remove Saddam using “all means ... including force”. He said: “If the Security Council won’t deal with the problem, the United States and some of our friends will.”The White House also found itself in a row with Germany after Herta Däubler-Gmelin, the German Justice Minister, compared Mr Bush to Hitler, suggesting he was pursuing Iraq to divert attention from domestic problems.

[MadIvan]

The Germans are behaving outrageously. Looks like it is the USA, UK, Australia and Israel. And that's it.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[11B3]

Who else would we need? That's the same ones who won WWII + Israel. I'd look for India to join as well, later on - plus Italy & Spain. The Krauts really $hit in their nest, didn't they?

[MadIvan]

Oh I wasn't complaining. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[SubMareener]

I sure hope the Pentagon has ordered enough Daisy Cutters for all these palaces that Saddam built with the money that was supposed to feed starving children!

Daisy! Daisy! Give me your answer true!

[MadIvan]

Ah yes, the lovely Miss Cutter. ;)

Saddam will be meeting her soon, to be sure. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[11B3]

After all these years of spending trillions of dollars on world opinion, the US is finally going to learn who its' real friends are in this world. We shouldn't spend another damned dime anywhere else.

[Rome2000]

If it was up to the krauts currently in power the Berlin wall would still be up.

They are just pissed over the American destruction of East Germany.

[snippy_about_it]

Amen.

[kinghorse]

Nice that Abu Nidal, the number one terrorist of the 70's and 80's enjoyed a retirement dacha under the aegis and protection of the Iraqi's, what's their complaint now that we decide it's time to come knocking.

Three words. Kick. Their. Ass. Read the resolution: (excerpt). Yes we may take a number of civilian casualties. Yes, delay will only increase the probability the number will increase.

Whereas the United States has the inherent right, as acknowledged in the United Nations Charter, to use force in order to defend itself;

Whereas Iraq’s demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the high risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify the use of force by the United States in order to defend itself;

[gorebegone]

The UN plans an early test of Saddam’s compliance. Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, told the Security Council that an advance party could arrive in Iraq on October 15 and conduct some inspections soon afterwards.

Why bother? I guess the UN is okay with performing sham inspections, are they that naive to think that Saddamn isn't producing his crap in his so called palaces?

[tomahawk]

We won't need to inspect the palaces. They will be destroyed.

[jimtorr]

Herta Däubler-Gmelin, the German Justice Minister, compared Mr Bush to Hitler

One German minister has shown himself to be despicable. The Justice Minister should know that such a comparison is verboten in Germany. Remember that in an argument, the first person who calls the other a nazi or Hitler loses the argument, because it demonstrates that he's run out of ideas.

suggesting he was pursuing Iraq to divert attention from domestic problems

Sound familiar? I wonder if Herta has been talking to Terry McAwful and the DNC?

[johnb838]

That's the same ones who won WWII + Israel.

Israel... a country whose people were saved in WWII by the allies, a situation loosely similar to an unimportant country in Europe called France.

Unlike France, our FRIENDS in ISRAEL, NEVER FORGOT!

Of course then there is the TOTALLY unPC question, SO unPC that I have never heard it debated in public until recently of whether the French were really conquered by or allied with the Germans.

It has also been too unPC to note until recently that Hitler was largely successful in his 'final solution to the Jewish question'.

Just some cheery thoughts to start the day. God Bless and by all means... 'Have a Good Day'

[johnb838]

From Doc Holliday in 'Tombstone':

You're a Daisy if ya do it!

[johnb838]

It's ok they should talk. They should keep right on chirping while we keep moving our chess pieces into position. Because I still don't think our Master Poker Player in Chief has shown all his cards. And when all our ships and planes and armor and personnel are in position, that's when he'll lay'em down and say "read 'em and weem, Sa-damn"

[Axolotl]

One would think that a German politician would be reticent to compare people to Hitler!

That's pretty unbelieveable IMHO...

[GirlShortstop]

The Krauts really $hit in their nest, didn't they?

It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

Any coalition would be better WITHOUT the loonies!

[jalisco555]

Looks like it is the USA, UK, Australia and Israel. And that's it.

I know I've done my share of France-bashing during the past year but I have a sneaking suspicion that when the bombs start falling in earnest some of them will be dropped by planes flying the tricolor. If I'm right they will have gone a long way toward redeeming themselves. We'll see.

[upchuck]

I have always been one to try and use common sense and keep it as simple as possible. That said, I suggest we use cruise missiles and maybe a Daisy Cutter or two to "inspect" those places Sadam Insane places off limits.