[piasa]

WILL U.S. RISK DEATH OF INSPECTORS?

Why wouldn't we? Our pilots and troops are at risk. Heck, as we saw on 911, we're all at risk.

But I hear leftist human shields are worth 20 bonus points per bullseye.

[PokeyJoe]

You get extra points if they are carrying a vast left wing conspiracy sign.

[NeonKnight]

I would suspect that the US would notify Annan a couple of days in advance, if he failed to order the inspectors out, their fate would be his doing.

[txhurl]

Q: Do you consider the recent discovery of warheads to be a material breach of the U.N. resolution?

Rumsfeld: I don't know. I think that, really, the only way inspectors can find anything is if the Iraqi government cooperates and shows them to them, and people are looking at those warheads now. I think it's probably early to make a judgment about them, but I think what really is being tested is not whether something can be found, because inspectors can't find things; they can only inspect what they've been shown. And the real test that's taking place is the issue as to whether or not the Iraqi regime is going to be cooperative with the United Nations. And thus far, they've filed a false declaration of what they have. They have refused to provide the lists of scientists that they are required to provide, so that the scientists can be taken out of the country, and talked to in safety with their families, and won't be killed by Saddam Hussein

DoD News Briefing Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Sunday, January 19, 2003

[piasa]

Probably no need though, since I believe the inspectors are based in Cypress and aren't living in Iraq on a day to day basis. They just won't be able to show up in Iraq when it's time. And Kofi won't know when it's time, either, much less be able to get inspectors to get in there and find a rocket launcher to hug for Saddam.

Usually presidents formally announce things after, not before, they occur. His St. Louis speech sounds like "the fat lady singing speech" so far, though.