Posted on 02/15/2003 10:29:03 AM PST by knighthawk
BAGHDAD - While Hans Blix was preparing to speak to the UN Security Council yesterday, Saddam Hussein banned all weapons of mass destruction. Denial and deception or just denial -- it's hard to tell in Baghdad right now.
The decree prohibits nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. In terms of credibility, it seemed a bit like New Brunswick outlawing snow or British Columbia banning pot farms.
The Iraqi parliament, which convened an emergency session yesterday afternoon to consider banning the weapons, was taken by surprise by the decree. Amid chants of support for the President and rehearsed speeches, parliamentarians condemned the U.S. and praised Germany for its anti-war stance.
By coincidence, Germany was also chairing the UN Security Council meeting in New York. The charade of powerless men and women, many in traditional dress, couldn't have provided a greater contrast to the world's most powerful countries deciding the fate of millions. But there was something childish about both of them.
Like a student who wants his enemies to be scolded by the teacher, the Iraqi regime will derive some pleasure from Hans Blix's dismissal of Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent presentation to the UN.
Mr. Powell presented numerous satellite photos he said showed the Iraqis cheating the UN inspectors, scurrying around hiding the evidence just before the inspectors arrived.
Dr. Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, was deferential, but less than convinced.
"The reported movement of munitions at the site could just as easily have been a routine activity as a movement of proscribed munitions in anticipation of an imminent inspection," he said of the blurry black and white photographs presented in the same room a few days ago.
You may not like my presentations, Dr. Blix seemed to be saying to Mr. Powell, but I'm giving yours an 'F'.
While giggling at Mr. Powell's discomfort, the Iraqis will be outraged by their own failing grade. Here Dr. Blix's tone contrasted with his content. His bland style, which put several Iraqis watching him at the Ministry of Information in Baghdad to sleep, is misleading. He pointed out that the co-operation offered by the Iraqis was hardly better than it was last time around. When he gave Baghdad bonus points for reducing the number of minders from a ratio of five per inspector to one on one he was being generous -- it hardly seemed like a leap toward disarmament.
Nonetheless, Dr. Blix wasn't ready to give up on the inspections just yet. Disarmament could still work, he concluded, if Baghdad were to offer "immediate, active and unconditional co-operation" with his teams. The Iraqi government is beginning to seem a bit like Welcome Back Kotter's collection of eternal high school students, the Sweathogs. They keep on failing, but return every season for yet another chance.
Another chance is just what many in the UN have been seeking, and Iraq will no doubt feel its strategy is working. From the beginning of the inspections late last year, the Iraqis have been picking away at the fissures and cracks among America's allies. France, Germany and Belgium, the countries most opposed to war, now have just enough ammunition to slow the U.S. down. The Iraqis may be delinquent in their obligations, they can argue, but they are not irredeemable.
It remains to be seen how the Americans can turn such a stodgy report into the kind inflammatory indictment needed to bring together a coalition. For the moment, press conferences will still be war by other means.
The question here is how long can this go on? With 150,000 U.S. troops and thousands of missiles pointing at the country, it feels as if the rhetorical war could very quickly escalate.
Gerhard Schroeder, the German Chancellor, is the hero of the moment in Baghdad. "Only Germany is standing on our side," said one of the endless roster of speakers in Baghdad who condemned the U.S. and praised Saddam Hussein. "And we thank those who are standing for peace with us."
While the talk rolled on, bored parliamentarians strolled out for a smoke or a cup of tea, some with tightly wrapped Kurdish headscarves and others in long robes with gold embroidery. Foreign journalists, who nearly outnumbered the politicians, spoke to their television cameras from the sidelines, ignoring the speeches. This, after all, was theatre and no one seemed to be taking it too seriously.
It was a formulaic affair where even the spontaneous chants died out after obligatory enthusiasm. Thus it must have come as some surprise when the 250 representatives learned the law they had come to debate had already been unanimously approved -- by their President.
I doubt it.
Well, duh! Hey genius Blix, that's the whole point by Powell and GW. Saddam will NEVER cooperate as you suggest. How could anybody be so naive?
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.