Originally posted by john9001
the day before Blix gives his report to the UN saddam will destroy or say he will destroy the missles that were found ( but not the missles that were not found ). Blix will then say 'it's working , we are disarming iraq" and the french will say "give the inspectors more time to do their job, it's working", and saddam will say (to himself) "i'm winning , i'm winning)
Yes, that fits the Iraqi dictator's mode of operation thus far. You'll note that just before very major report to the U.N. by the inspectors Iraq has pledged to increase cooperation, comply with a request (not all, just one or two), and/or release a handful of pages of documents (of dubious origins and value). Thus Blix is forced to caveat his report with the words "increased signs of cooperations. The fact that conditions are attached to any compliance, and that few if any of the documents released in a trickle (23 pages before the last report, 6 letters to the U.N inspectors this week) have proven to be relavent to the open disarmament issues is little publicized. The half dozen letters this week that Blix referred to today as a "sign of substantial increase in cooperation" don't actually contain any requested information, only promises that they will provide it. As I've said, Saddam is giving certain member nations on the Council just enough, and nothing more, to give them a reason to avoid "the last resort."
My question is, what conditions should prompt the last resort? Resolution 1441 was supposed to BE the last opportunity for Iraq, and stated pretty clearly what was required of Iraq. Full and immediate compliance with all requests by inspectors, a full written disclosure of their WMD programs, including what happened to their remaining stocks, interviews in private with any and all scientists/participants involved (including a complete list of names, which has never been provided). This was all supposed to happen immediately, with the initiative on Iraq to feed the process. Four months later, none of these requirements have been met, or have been met only partially and reluctantly. Iraq has treated 1441 in the same manner as every resolution that came before it, with contempt.