Un Inspectors Provide Bush With Fresh Trigger For War

Independent (UK) ^ | 2-23-2003 | Rupert Cornwell/Andy McSmith

[blam]

UN inspectors provide Bush with fresh trigger for war

By Rupert Cornwell and Andy McSmith
23 February 2003

An invasion of Iraq by the US and Britain could come even sooner than expected, as United Nations weapons inspectors threw down a double challenge to Saddam Hussein, and President Bush issued his sternest warning yet to the UN to fall into line or face irrelevance.

The new pressure on Baghdad comes as Tony Blair risks a huge Commons rebellion this week when Labour MPs are ordered by the whips to support the threat of military force against Iraq.

Last night, war appeared closer than ever as the UN's top nuclear weapons inspector warned that Iraq was still stalling. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iraq was not fully co-operating with weapons inspectors. Another trigger for war could be the unexpected deadline issued by his colleague, Hans Blix, that Iraq should start destroying dozens of missiles with a range which exceeds UN limits. Baghdad complained that this would be "tantamount to suicide".

And from his ranch at Crawford Texas, where he met Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of Spain, Mr Bush warned: "Time is short." Accusing Saddam of continuing to cheat and dissemble, he insisted that this was a last chance "for the Security Council to show its relevance". The two leaders discussed the final draft of the "clear and simple" second resolution the US and Britain will introduce at the Security Council tomorrow, declaring that Iraq is in breach of its UN obligations and therefore faces "serious consequences" ­ diplomatic code for war.

But opposition to war is mounting around the world and particularly in Britain, where Mr Blair desperately needs the political cover of a new UN resolution. Yesterday's summit of 114 non-aligned nations joined the African leaders who met last week in Paris in backing France's call for the inspectors to be given more time.

The Prime Minister, who had a private meeting with the Pope in which they set out their conflicting views on the impending war, will try to keep most MPs on his side by announcing what he will call his "last push for peace".

The political stakes will be raised yet higher this morning when one of the most popular members of the Cabinet, Clare Short, sets out the terms on which she is prepared to support a military strike against Iraq.

In an interview for GMTV's Sunday programme, the International Development Secretary revealed that "most of my family and most of the people I know" took part in last weekend's huge anti-war demonstration. But she went on: "There are some people who say 'no force at any price' and I understand that emotionally, but I can't claim to be a responsible member of the UK government if we're willing to see the UN endlessly humiliated and the people of Iraq endlessly suffer."

Mr Blair is hoping that for as long as the "UN route" to a possible war is adhered to, he can avoid a split in his own Cabinet and the consequent risk of Parliamentary defeat. This month, 120 MPs, 84 of them Labour. signed a Commons motions opposing war unless a series of conditions had been met.

Commons business managers now have the task of writing a "substantive motion" on which MPs will vote on Wednesday.

Downing Street yesterday released a detailed list of the illegal weapons which Iraq is still suspected of concealing from UN inspectors, including 360 tons of bulk chemical warfare agents and other materials for producing deadly toxins such as VX nerve gas and anthrax.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

My two cents: Bush has waited far too long. The Socialist opposition has now had enough time to orchestrate a significant anti-war movement throughout the world. We should have gone in two months ago.

[Snowy]

I think starting things tomorrow night right before the Grammy's would be a wonderful idea. :)

[Interesting Times]

My two cents: Bush has waited far too long. The Socialist opposition has now had enough time to orchestrate a significant anti-war movement throughout the world. We should have gone in two months ago.

Ignore the political noises, and watch the movements of men and equipment.

The heavy stuff is just now coming into position...

[tet68]

No, this is coming together.
Even Short is back tracking.
Just wait.
Two months ago would have been past time
by my watch too.
GW continues to surprise his opponents with his leadership.

[Luis Gonzalez]

War moves at its own pace, not ours.

[XEHRpa]

The Prime Minister [Blair], who had a private meeting with the Pope

< Tinfoil > Call me crazy, but I thought it odd when Tariq Aziz met with the Pope last week, even going out of his way to throw gratuitous anti-Israeli jabs at the press. Aziz is a Christian by the way. And now the Pope meets with Blair.

Maybe the Pope routinely gets personally involved before an outbreak of hostility, but I wouldn't be surprised to read 20 years from now that Aziz was our Baghdad mole who passed vital info through the Pope to the West. < /Tinfoil >

Back to my hole...

[blam]

"I wouldn't be surprised to read 20 years from now that Aziz was our Baghdad mole who passed vital info through the Pope to the West. "

Not a chance. Aziz will hang with Saddam.

[Nick Danger]

But opposition to war is mounting around the world and particularly in Britain

That's right, and it's only going to get worse. Just wait until Saddam says "yes" to Blix's so-called 'ultimatum.' Blix is handing Saddam the perfect stall... he's not just being inspected, Saddam is actually disarming. See that? He's already destroyed ten missiles. Why, by this time next month, he'll have destroyed twenty missiles. Disarmament is working! Yeah Blix!

No, you can't attack him now, he's destroying his missiles! We have to make sure we get them all. It will only take a year. Oh look, here's another five we didn't know about. We can pencil them in to be destroyed in 2005.

If Bush falls for this, and allows Blix to start this "missile destruction" nonsense, Blix and the French will have won. Bush will be totally screwed. Saddam will have nukes before Blix gets done playing Missile Cop.

What does Saddam lose by saying "yes?" Some short-range missiles. What does he gain? No U.S. invasion, for as long as he can keep making these missiles and dribbling them out to Blix. Meanwhile, the centrifuges are running.

Blix is in cahoots with the French... and with Saddam Hussein. This needs to be cut off at the pass.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[XEHRpa]

Not a chance. Aziz will hang with Saddam.

I'm sure you are right... I just like to hold out hope that He works the wonder of His Grace through the hearts of even stubbornly evil men (I'm talking the Lord, here, not the Pope).

p.s. Sorry, responded on the wrong thread last time.

[r9etb]

Not a chance. Aziz will hang with Saddam.

Probably so. However, there's also the third (slim) possibility, which is that Saddam's using the Pope as a middleman to work out an exile plan to save his scabby behind.

IMHO the Pope is doing what he can to make peace, even if the chances for that are dim. Aziz pretty much kiboshed the chances with his slap at the Israeli reporter.

[eddie willers]

I think starting things tomorrow night right before the Grammy's would be a wonderful idea. :)

Good thinking.
Two birds with one stone and all that.

[mike_9958]

I think its a shame it takes this long to mobilize for a significant operation as this. I know the time lag is necessary but I would feel better if it this was all finished by now. The economy has taken a beating on this, as well moral in general....

We gotta get better with this kind of thing, find better methods to deal with idiot tyrants like Saddam

[Canadian Outrage]

Aziz is a Christian??????????? I don't think so.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

"...declaring that Iraq is in breach of its UN obligations and therefore faces "serious consequences" ­ diplomatic code for war."

It would be better if written,

"... declaring that the UN is in breach of its UN obligations and therefore faces "serious consequences" diplomatic code for America is pulling out of the UN."

[XEHRpa]

Aziz is a Christian??????????? I don't think so.

Yes he is. I've heard it both in the media, and heard it from my pastor who is an Army Reserve chaplain (He told me the actual denomination, but I can't recall).

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Chaldean Christian

[TLBSHOW]

BUMP

[AUsome Joy]

From The Catholic News Service
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20030218.htm

"The Iraqi deputy prime minister, a Catholic of the Chaldean rite, was invited by Franciscan friars to pray in Assisi Feb. 15. The gesture underlined that "every possible avenue toward peace should remain open," said a spokesman for the Franciscan monastery there.

But to some Italians, the image of a prayerful Aziz invoking peace was too much to swallow. They complained that the Franciscans were being used by a man who since 1979 has been the No. 2 official of a regime guilty of serious human rights abuses."

Go to link to see rest of article.