Blix: No Weapons of Mass Destruction Seen

AP ^ | 02/14/03

[nypokerface]

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. weapons inspectors haven't found any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but chief inspector Hans Blix said many proscribed materials remain unaccounted for.

Inspectors "has not found any such weapons, only a small number of empty chemical munitions, which should have been declared and destroyed," he said.

" Another matter and one of great significance is that many proscribed weapons and items are not accounted for. One must not jump to the conclusion that they exist. However, that possibility is also not excluded. If they exist, they should be presented for destruction.

If they do not exist, credible evidence to that effect should be presented.

Blix also reported findings by a panel of experts that one of Iraq's new missile systems exceeds the range limit set by Security Council resolutions.

" The experts concluded that, based on the data provided by Iraq, the two declared variants of the Al Samoud 2 missile were capable of exceeding 150 kilometers in range. This missile system is therefore proscribed for Iraq," Blix said.

On the Al Fatah missile, Blix said: "the experts found that clarification of the missile data supplied by Iraq was required before the capability of the missile system could be fully assessed."

Blix said private interviews with three Iraqi scientists "proved informative," but since the interviews conducted in Baghdad on Feb. 8-9, "no further interviews have since been accepted on our terms."

"I hope this will change," he said. "We feel that interviews conducted without any third party present and without tape recording would provide the greatest credibility."

Under intense pressure, Iraq agreed to press scientists to agree to private interviews earlier this month. Previously, all scientists insisted on being accompanied by an Iraqi official or having their interview tape recorded.

Blix cast doubt on some of the evidence presented by Secretary of State Colin Powell last week at the Security Council. Powell suggested

"In no case have we seen convincing evidence that the Iraqi side knew in advance that the inspectors were coming."

[VRWC_minion]

Its settled then. False alarm. No problem we can all go back to sleep.

[Overtaxed]

[epluribus_2]

"If they exist, they should be presented for destruction. "

If the exist - IRAQ HAD ONE LAST CHANCE TO ADMIT IT.

GAME OVER.

[anniegetyourgun]

"I hope this will change,"...

No wing and a prayer....that's all the inspectors have. They can hope that Saddam will change all they want....he's still going to be a lying monster...laughing in the face of nations gathered at the U.N.

[UncleSamUSA]

Hans Blix: MegaWimp.

Remember that two years ago, the US and UK put forward another candidate to head the Inspections Commitee and that we were blocked by France, China and Russia, who put forward another candidate that they favored over the US/UK choice. That man's name was Hans Blix.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Then get your inspectors out of the way, Hans, so they won't get hurt while we finish the job.

[CheneyChick]

Exactly.

[rintense]

Ditto to your exactly.

Let the bombing begin!

[Coop]

This report does not surprise me at all.

Saddle up troops!

France, Germany and Belgium, please step back away from the doors. The train is about to leave the station.

[UncleSamUSA]

Watching this UN farce continue, and wasn't it just SPECIAL when that anti-American windag Joschka Fischer turned called on the Syrian delegate to give the first response.

I mean, now we see who the Krauts are truly in bed with.

[grammar alert: for all you purists let me rephrase: Now we see with whom the Krauts are truly in bed.]

[Grampa Dave]

[headsonpikes]

RE: Blix

A Swedish breakfast cereal cannot corral Saddam.

No snap, crackle, or pop. Just gets soggy and lays there, all wet.

;^)

[shadeaud]

I wasn't aware that the ''weasel'' members nominated Blix. That being the case, if Scott Ridder hadn't been exposed as a criminal, I wonder if old Scotty boy would have been part of the new team of inspectors.

[ClearCase_guy]

I certainly welcome this report.

I suspect the UN will decide to wait and investigate some more. I'm thrilled.
I suspect NATO will tell Turkey to take a hike. I'm thrilled again.

I hope the US attacks Iraq within 48 hours, kicks the UN out of New York, and pulls out of NATO. Thank you Hans Blix.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Entomologist's during February in Michigan report, "There are no butterflies here".

[Grampa Dave]

Besides this good news from the UN, Uncle Soddomite the Insane Mass Murderer of innocents has just banned WMD's. (Soddomite Outlaws WMDs)

[Coop]

I hope the US attacks Iraq within 48 hours, kicks the UN out of New York

I must admit that I'm still fond of the FReeper who suggested rebuilding the WTC and then relocating the U.N. to the top ten floors! Bravo!!!

[alnick]

If they do not exist, credible evidence to that effect should be presented.

He must have missed Powell's presentation. Sheesh.

[FlyingEagle]

Interesting fact about this toady Joschka Fischer: from the excellent Paul Berman article on the New republic site -
http://www.tnr.com/082701/berman082701_partone.html

"Fischer was accused of having attended a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Algiers back in 1969, at which the PLO adopted a resolution to achieve final victory, which is to say, the destruction of Israel. That was not so good, and seemed triply bad for a future foreign minister of Germany, even if no one threw rocks or bombs. The ministry spokesman conceded that Fischer did attend the conference; but, doing his best to cope with one more embarrassing revelation, the spokesman made the mistake of adding that Fischer had spent only an hour there, which was like admitting to using marijuana but not to inhaling it."

Why must the world have a charade on a tyrant like Saddam orchestrated by a Red Army Fraction member like Fischer?