Posted on 11/26/2002 11:35:22 PM PST by MadIvan
SADDAM Hussein brought war in Iraq closer last night after hints that UN weapons inspectors would be banned from searching his palaces.
Chief inspector Hans Blix said Iraqi officials told him “entry into presidential sites was not the same thing as entry into factories”.
But Mr Blix said bluntly: “The Security Council authorises us to go anywhere, anytime and we intend to do so.”
A UN resolution demands that the inspectors get full access and threatens dictator Saddam with “serious consequences” if he blocks them.
Dr Blix also poured scorn on Saddam’s insistence Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.
He demanded proof that stockpiles were destroyed and accounts from chemical factories.
Saddam is believed to have arsenals of biological weapons beneath his huge palaces. He also uses bunkers beneath hospitals and schools.
But the UN team showed off equipment they claim will spot anything Saddam has.
It includes ground-penetrating radar that can uncover underground facilities and radiation detectors.
Saddam’s latest show of contempt came a day before the inspectors start work.
A British diplomat said: “It looks like we’ll go down a depressingly familiar route — ending in military action.”
From the recently passed UN resolution on Iraq
3. Decides that, in order to begin to comply with its disarmament obligations, in addition to submitting the required biannual declarations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to UNMOVIC, the IAEA, and the Council, not later than 30 days from the date of this resolution, a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and dispersal systems designed for use on aircraft, including any holdings and precise locations of such weapons, components, sub-components, stocks of agents, and related material and equipment, the locations and work of its research, development and production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological, and nuclear programmes, including any which it claims are for purposes not related to weapon production or material
The resolution was passed on November 8th, which makes December 8th the 30 day deadline.
Secrecy is impossible to achieve on such a farcical "team".
One minute after the team leader announces the day's inspection target, Saddam's cell phone rings.
Hmmmm .. could Saddam be getting a little worried
Naaaa .. they won't do it on the 8th .. that is the day FDR delcare war in WWII .. President Bush would never over shadow such an important date in our nations history
However, December 9th looks ok
That's something I'll never understand . . . Why, oh why, did the US and the UN ever agree to announce these inspection targets or have Iraqi escorts for the inspectors? IMO, the teams should be moving around unescorted, by helicopter, and every site visited should be surprised to see helicopters landing in the courtyard.
You nailed it, this is a farce. I've just started reading Saddam's Bombmaker by Dr. Hamza.
He thinks Saddam is very close to having nukes, and will use them.
A Saddam quote; "Don't tell me about the law. The law is anything I write on a scrap of paper"
All he is going to do is play a shell game, until he can get a nuke online, with enough range to hit Tel Aviv.
I hope we don't waste ANY more time with the League Of Nations...er, U.N.
And what gets me is NOBODY REALLY KNOWS. Nobody knows how close he is, nor whether he already got there six months ago. And if he already has them, nobody knows how many he is capable of producing every year. In the worst case, the SOB could already have dozens and dozens of them.
Time is not on our side and mere days may make a huge difference in the number of casualties we suffer in this coming war. Screw the UN.
And the reason we don't know is because our intelligence in the CIA has been a joke.
Dr. Hamza tells in his book how many Iraqi scientists would defect and tell all, if given the chance. He and other scientists went abroad often, shopping for nuclear bomb making materials.
Dr. Hamza: " Had the CIA approached me with an offer of safe haven during one of my shopping trips...I would have jumped into it's arms. But they not only ignored me, they rebuffed and even ridiculed my pleas for help in 1994."
SAD...
But with some better mapping of underground installations.
Regards, Ivan
Then you can say goodbye to Bagdad as it reaches twice the surface temperature of our sun.
'The dude obviously doesn't want Blix et. al. finding all his inflata-camel sex toys
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