At 10:19 PM 4/7/2005 -0700, Nick wrote: >> I think declarations that our only choice was invasion ignores the >> success of the inspections; not only those just prior to that event >> but the earlier ones that we now know ended all of Hussein's WMD programs. > >That is a rather good point that I'm embarrassed to have ommitted. Yes, now >we know that the inspections *were* working!
You have an interesting definition of "working." In my mind, the purpose of inspections is to assure the rest of the world that Iraq did not retain any WMD stockpiles or programs. This assurance was impossible to make under the inspections. Allow me to emphasize, at NO POINT did Iraq ever comply with UN inspections. For example, consider UNSC Resolution 687 (1991), where the Security Council invoked its binding authority under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. "8. Decides that Iraq shall unconditionally accept the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless, under international supervision of... all chemical and weapons and all stocks of agents and all related subsystems and components and all research, development, support, and manufacturing facilities related thereto;....." Note that this resolution requires these things to be destroyed, removed, or rendered harmless under international supervision. This was to ensure that Iraq could never use the suspicion that it had chemical or biological weapons to again threaten its neighbors. Iraq NEVER complied with this provision. Moreover, the inspections that did occur were NEVER *unconditional.* Saddam Hussein always insisted upon placing conditions on the movement and access of inspectors, so as to give the definite impression that he was hiding something. So, again, if one looks at the rationale for inspections - to provide assurances to the world that Iraq really did no longer have WMD weapons or programs, then it is impossible to say that the inspections were working, because no such assurances were ever produced. JDG _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
