NY Times Editorial - Iraq is not disarming!

NY Times ^

[billl]

Disarming Iraq As much as the feuding members of the United Nations Security Council might like Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei to settle the question of war or peace with Iraq, these two mild-mannered civil servants can't make that fateful judgment. All they can do, which they did again yesterday, is to tell the Council how their inspection efforts are faring. So-so was the answer. It's up to the Council members — especially the veto-wielding quintet of the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — to decide whether Iraq is disarming.

In our judgment, Iraq is not. The only way short of war to get Saddam Hussein to reverse course at this late hour is to make clear that the Security Council is united in its determination to disarm him and is now ready to call in the cavalry to get the job done. America and Britain are prepared to take that step. The time has come for the others to quit pretending that inspections alone are the solution.

[billl]

I get this rag delivered every day - so my wife can do the crossword puzzle. Otherwise I just pick the science times out of the recycling at the train station on Tuesdays. Since I wrote them off long ago, when I opened to the back editorial page today I expected to laugh at their weasel-words. Instead they say the UN better be serious or else George will do it. Interesting. Wait - they haven't disappointed me - the front page of the Travel Section is all about going to Paris and there is a big picture of the Arab Institute! Maybe they are being ironic or they assume it is the responsibility of the right-thinking to support their Allies in this dark time - bwahahahaha !

[CasearianDaoist]

I have serveral friends whose doctors told them not to read the times - high blood pressured don't you know. I kid you not.

[randita]

France has peeved a lot of people. As a result, I expect them to take a big hit on tourism. But they seem willing to endure that hit in order to guarantee their multi-billion dollar oil contracts with Iraq.