Posted on 03/17/2003 2:15:15 AM PST by Timesink
Developing....
Mar 17, 2003
No one has yet given the order for the roughly 200 inspectors and support staff to begin pulling out. In fact, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said he planned to present a plan to the Security Council that would extend the inspections regime by several months.
But Blix, asked by reporters at the United Nations whether inspectors would continue their work on Monday, said: "Yes - unless we call them back."
Most of the team's helicopters have left the country because their insurance was canceled, Blix said, and the personnel level is low because of a scheduled rotation home.
The inspectors, who returned to Iraq on Nov. 27 after a nearly four-year absence, drew up contingency plans to evacuate even before their redeployment.
"A lot depends on the Iraqis," a senior U.N. inspector told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. "If they let us use aircraft to get out, we could be gone in 48 hours or even less. If they won't let us fly out, we would have to drive to a border, and that could mean an eight-hour journey across hot desert. It would take longer, but we would get out."
Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency hunting for evidence of a nuclear program in Iraq, has been monitoring the situation day to day to determine when his teams might have to leave.
By early Monday, no decision had been made to pull them out, the IAEA said.
But with the United States, Britain and Spain making clear that Monday would be the final day for diplomatic efforts to avert a conflict, it appeared that the inspectors were running out of time and could begin withdrawing at any moment.
In a sign that war could be imminent, the U.S. State Department on Sunday night ordered nonessential personnel and all family members to leave Israel, Kuwait and Syria in a precautionary move.
Britain on Monday advised all its citizens except diplomatic staff to leave Kuwait as soon as possible, citing a potential threat from war in neighboring Iraq. Germany said Sunday it had called on all Germans to leave Iraq "immediately" and would close its embassy in Baghdad after its citizens left the country.
Inspectors have experience in getting out of Iraq in a hurry: In December 1998, they pulled out on the eve of U.S.-British airstrikes amid allegations that Baghdad was not cooperating with the teams.
"Of course, it looks very threatening, the whole thing," Blix said.
AP-ES-03-17-03 0455EST
CRUSH Saddam !!
Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the warning was made late Sunday night to the Vienna-based nuclear agency hunting for atomic weaponry as well as to the New York-based inspectors looking for biological and chemical weapons.
"Late last night ... I was advised by the U.S. government to pull out our inspectors from Baghdad," ElBaradei told the IAEA's board of governors Monday. He said the Security Council was informed and would take up the issue later Monday.
"I immediately involved the president of the Security Council and asked for guidance. I also informed the U.N. secretary-general," ElBaradei said. "I understand that the Security Council will take up the issue today."
ElBaradei told the nuclear agency's 35-nation board that he was worried about the safety of the teams but still held out hope that war could be averted.
"Naturally the safety of our staff remains our primary consideration at this difficicult time," he said. "I earnestly hope - even at this late hour - that a peaceful resolution of the issue can be achieved and that the world can be spared a war."
U.N. officials have said the roughly 200 inspectors and support staff in Iraq could be evacuated in as little as 48 hours.
ElBaradei, who has been monitoring the situation day to day, confirmed that he and Blix had received an invitation from the Iraqis "to visit Iraq with a view toward accelerating the implementation of our respective mandates." He did not say whether he or Blix had accepted.
"I should note that in recent weeks, possibly as a result of increasing pressure by the international community, Iraq has been more forthcoming in its cooperation with the IAEA," he said.
Damn I guess these fools don't believe fat meat is greasy either. But what the hell does El Baradei and Blix care, they are in New York are they not?
After to wait for Koffee to wake up, say about 10:30 am.
Chirac has meeting scheduled for Tuesday last I read last night. Heh heh heh
This is getting to be too exciting, however I am going to have to wake my big boy up in a few so he can go to the base, they probably will be shipping out sometime this week.
Same thought occurred to me. Cynicism bump.
Well you don't have to pull them out. I'm sure pretty soon they will detect weapons of massive destruction.
If Blix's people have an ounce of common sense they won't wait for a phone call......they'll see these articles posted online and take the hint -- and be on the next plane to Amman or Cyprus.
Yeah, let Chirac call Dubya. I hope Bush takes Superfrog's call on a house phone in the lobby of the biggest hotel in Baghdad.
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