To Those Who Think More Inspectors Is the Answer in Iraq

[Mr. Goodbytes]

A former Iraqi officer has indicated that not only did Saddam continue possession of WMD, he has encouraged development of more potent weapons. It appears our intelligence agencies didn't even know about this. Since the UN inspectors couldn't find their own butts with both hands, and aren't really there to find WMD per se, then how is having more inspections/inspectors the answer? The UN inpsectors are there to find every reason to prove Saddam is complying, and they have indicated he isn't. This article is just more proof that Saddam will never let them get near his weapons. It's probably best they don't anyway, I bet he'd kill them first and try to blame it on us.

[osprey4]

I love the way the UN confronts Iraq about their illegal missiles, to which Iraq responds, uh, we'll get back to you about that. And that makes the inspectors happy?

Presumably, if Iraq just hides them, everything will be peachy.

[ClubMed]

Due to my dads line of work I speak to quite a few inspectors from time to time. Most of them are of the opinion that this is a cynical war, that Saddam was close to having big toys but doesn't anymore and that he poses little threat to world peace.

But politics plays by a different tune, and this is what all this is about IMO.

The article is quite vague, it plays like a scanalous report but if you read it there is no technical or detailed evidence or reporting. it's simply "Someone (who we can't name) said Iraq has WMD's (that we don't know anything about)!!". I guess for some people that's enough to make an opinion.

[Epidemic]

Saddam is just exploring new crop dusting methods.

Would you give your name to the press if your family were still in Iraq. There in lies the problem.

Scientists can't tell the truth unless they are with out friends and family.

Officers can't speak for the same reason.

Even people who have fled the country can not speak.

Therefore, this does create a dilemma. Do you ignore the evidence presented by these anonymous informants or not.

The truth lies in motives, the motives must be guessed using reason, body language, history and detailed knowledge and so on. The article does not prove or deny the charges. Yes it is vague, however I do not know the details that were given to the government, or what was trimmed out of the article to keep it in the allotted space.

Right now I am running with where there is smoke there is fire theory.

[ClubMed]

Yes I fully agree with you and that goes for all such regimes around the world, as long as you have some attachment (family) in the country you can't open you mouth without risking the torture, rape and mutilation of your loved ones..

But you can open your mouth in secret, you can secretively tell the governments and inspection organisations about locations, addresses, sources. These can be double checked. Especially if they are done in secret and quickly while the regime still thinks that it's locations are safe from scrutiny.

This conflict is about 11 years old now? Iraq is a relatively big country with I assume many secret locations? Quite a few people have defected?

And yet never have the Iraqis been caught with their pants down, not even once. This is food for thought IMO.

Surely at least one defector or leak (by the defectors or the USA) could have led to a secret stash of nuclear weapons or material once in 11 years???

This is why I continue to view this whole matter sceptically.

[RADAR1797]

I look at it the opposite way. A country bigger than California with lots of places to hide stuff is difficult to search. I am sure we know exactly where to go to find some stuff, but the method for our knowledge may expose the source if released. Either way, if Saddam wanted to make this all go away he would line up his missiles, biological and chemical agents and request the US to make a bombing run in the middle of the desert. After that I think we would get off his back. Otherwise I figure he has about a month left on this planet. After that even Allah will not take him.

-RADAR

[Epidemic]

They have been caught with their pants being zipped up.

Several facilities have been cleaned out mere days before the inspection teams showed up. Of course this proves only one thing that the inspection teams are incompetent.

Good old hanz should keep the information in his little bean and tell the team the address they are going to after they leave in the morning. Good old Hanz should simply drive and say follow me. This would would keep their pants down through the inspection. Pre-planning the inspection in open meetings prior to a site visit is foolish based upon historical evidence. Good old hanz knows he has a leak, or he is the leak.

[wyvrn]

The inspector's and various intelligence agencies do not have carte blanche authority. For instance, U2 flights have to be requested 48 hours ahead of time. That means Iraq can move it's WMD around with little fear of being caught. Secondly, scientists don't talk because they and their families are threatened. The inspectors have been allowed to talk to 2 scientists recently without an Iraqi govt. official present, but I still would not trust their information becaue they and their families don't have asylum. If you were in that position, would you risk your family's lives and tell the truth?

The 1441 resolution states that Iraq has to prove it has destroyed weapons and that it is not producing more WMD. It has done neither, which does not work in it's favor. Given it's history, I do not think it unwise to assume that they still have WMD. Further, by an interview with Iraq's top nuclear scientist (now living in Wash. DC), Iraq was approx. one year away from having a working nuclear bomb at the time this scientist and his family escaped Iraq with the help of the CIA. Does this not alarm you?

The facts are that Iraq has a history of developing and deploying WMD's, not complying with UN resolutions, and a long list of atrocious treatment of it's own people as well as it's neighbors. The UN also has a history of making resolutions and then virtually ignoring their implementation, allowing dictator's like Saddam to circumvent restrictions and continue the bloodbath.

I will not even go into detail about France's financial holdings in Iraq or the fact they provided Saddam with his nuclear capabilities in an attempt to weaken their position against the US in the UN. I am sure all of you can research that for yourselves.

The burden to disarm and PROVE disarmament is on Saddam, as the current resolution is written. Else, the UN should back it's resolution and take Hussein out by force if neccessary. It is obvious at this point the diplomatic means are not working because the UN has no bite behind it's bark, which Iraq has been counting on for too long.

Originally posted by ClubMed
Yes I fully agree with you and that goes for all such regimes around the world, as long as you have some attachment (family) in the country you can't open you mouth without risking the torture, rape and mutilation of your loved ones..

But you can open your mouth in secret, you can secretively tell the governments and inspection organisations about locations, addresses, sources. These can be double checked. Especially if they are done in secret and quickly while the regime still thinks that it's locations are safe from scrutiny.

This conflict is about 11 years old now? Iraq is a relatively big country with I assume many secret locations? Quite a few people have defected?

And yet never have the Iraqis been caught with their pants down, not even once. This is food for thought IMO.

Surely at least one defector or leak (by the defectors or the USA) could have led to a secret stash of nuclear weapons or material once in 11 years???

This is why I continue to view this whole matter sceptically.

CM, to some extent I agree with you.

But you know very well Arabs are a tight knit community.

As tight as the Israeli Jews.

So defectors not turning up as expected is understandable.

[vass0922]

Going on Epi's comment of Hans being a possible leak..
You have to wonder how much money Saddam has offered him or at least some of the inspectors to 'overlook' some details. We all know he has the money for it.. he really doesn't have much to lose, if they deny him.. well we all know he's a scumbag so thats nothing new.. they'll still need actual evidence that there IS something to 'overlook'.