Well, well well. Hans the Meek has found the smoking gun. Things are going to be mighty interesting at the UN tomorrow.
February 13, 2003
Iraq inspectors find banned missile system
From James Bone in New York
Western pressure grows on Saddam Hussain to flee Baghdad
THE chief United Nations weapons inspector will report tomorrow that Iraq has been developing a ballistic missile that is in clear violation of UN restrictions.
The discovery of a banned weapons system on the eve of Hans Blix’s crucial presentation is tantamount to the inspectors finding a “smoking gun” — even though it was declared by Iraq to the UN as a legal programme.
Diplomats said the announcement would strengthen London and Washington’s case that Iraq was in “material breach” of UN demands and help the two allies to win support within the Security Council for a new resolution authorising the use of force.
The finding is also certain to provoke a confrontation when inspectors ask the Iraqi armed forces to surrender the banned missiles for destruction just as the country is preparing for an American attack.
A panel of independent experts ruled that the Iraqi missiles could fly beyond that range and Dr Blix will declare the al-Samoud 2 missile a proscribed programme. “The verdict on the missiles was that the al-Samoud falls in the prohibited zone and its engines should probably be destroyed,” one Security Council diplomat said. But Mohammed Aldouri, Iraq’s UN Ambassador, insisted that the al-Samoud 2 missile system flew within the permitted range of 150km. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-576127,00.html
Og, you shouldnt jump to conclusions so quckly.. it seems Rice has been rushing around trying to forcedly persuade Blix into changing his mind over Iraq. I think Blix will use his moral judgement and will not be misled by her last minute intervention.
United Nations, February 12: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice flew to New York on Tuesday morning to press chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix to acknowledge in a Security Council briefing on Friday that Iraq has failed to voluntarily scrap its prohibited chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs, according to US and UN diplomats.
**Rice’s unannounced meeting with Blix underscored the Bush administration’s concern that the Swedish diplomat’s report to the council on Friday, while critical of Iraq, may not be decisive enough to convince wavering Security Council members to support an immediate move to war. Sources said Blix’s report will be much briefer than the one he gave to the council on January 27 and that as of Tuesday would not contain a declaration that Iraq is in ‘‘material breach’’ of its obligations, which the US has sought. ** :k: :k:
Either the missles are in compliance or they are not. The Times article describes a number of ways that they are in violation of previous letters from inspectors. If a panel of experts says that one and possibly two missle systems are in violation, then they are in violation. Now lets' go figure out how many there are, and destroy them.
There is a new moon March 3rd. That means Iraq will have about two weeks to comply.
And by the way, two months later has a SINGLE UN U2 gone over Iraq?
Og, Rice made a last ditch effort to force Blix into declaring Iraq in material breach.. I think she failed miserably, I think Blix will not be swayed by anyones arguments especially if they are based largely on circumstancial and baseless evidence.
If you walked into a room and caught Saddam redhanded snorting Anthrax powder you would say, "poor guy has a problem, he should go to rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic."
If they caught Saddam walking the streets of Manhattan with an atomic weapon, you would belive him when he says, "Some Jew gave it to me.".
so what ?
Blix will speak USA’s language when he’ll address the UN on 14th Feb. everyone knows how desperate USA is to attack iraQ … it will do everything possible to justify its attack … biggest moronic nation in the world :nook:
