Inspectors' access to Iraq may depend on revised agreement
Posted on 09/30/2002 4:44:34 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Inspectors' access to Iraq may depend on revised agreement
U.N. group prepares to go back to work as U.S. negotiates new proposal
09/30/2002
UNITED NATIONS - U.N. weapons inspectors, who on Monday will lay down demands to Iraq about getting back into the country, may not get the unfettered access demanded by the United States unless the Security Council alters a deal made in 1998.
The inspectors are preparing equipment, ordering helicopters and testing new technology as the United States negotiates a new proposal for their return.
The Bush administration dismissed Iraq's offer this month to accept the inspectors' unconditional return under previous U.N. resolutions. Instead, the United States is pushing for a new resolution completely redesigning the inspections regime and the powers that inspectors would have to enter President Saddam Hussein's palaces, block his movements and break into closed facilities during their hunt for weapons.
"This resolution that we're working on has to give the inspectors all the access they need, and there cannot be any conditions on presidential sites or sensitive sites; that just can't happen," one U.S. official said.
Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, and Jacques Baute, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency's nuclear team, begin two days of talks Monday with Iraqi experts in Vienna, Austria, to arrange for the inspectors' return.
The Iraqis are supposed to bring a list of items they possess that could have military purposes. The lists must disclose the locations and uses for the items.
"We're certainly aware of what happened last time," said Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. "But we uncovered Iraq's secret nuclear program, and we dismantled it. If we get unfettered access, we will be successful again."
Although they have not been in Iraq since December 1998, inspectors are certain Iraq has a biological weapons program.
Some experts also believe that, despite 12 years of sanctions in place since Iraq invaded Kuwait and lobbed Scud missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia, Mr. Hussein is ready to build a nuclear bomb if he gets enough weapons-grade uranium or plutonium.
Britain said last week that Iraq has a growing arsenal of chemical and biological weapons capable of being launched within 45 minutes. Washington also contends that Iraq has ties to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network.
But unless they are on the ground, inspectors say, there is no way to know how quickly Iraq is resuscitating its programs.
 |
Michael Ramirez, California -- The Los Angeles Times
Here is another one of his....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.