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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=24398412 The Times of India October 7, 2002 Editorial Blocking Inspections -[T]he draft US resolution envisages a heavily armed inspection force staffed primarily by US troops which could, at will, declare any part of Iraqi territory an 'exclusion zone' for the Iraqi government. Any protest by Baghdad would constitute a ''material breach of Iraq's obligations'' and ''authorise member states to use all necessary means to restore international peace and security''. The last phrase, of course, is a euphemism for military force. -By advocating a draconian new resolution as a precondition for the return of inspectors, the US is only trying to provide itself the fig-leaf of a casus belli. The international community must not oblige. It's the Bush doctrine's first outing, and it is already clear that the aim of Washington's pre-emptive war is to deal not only with threat of weapons of mass des-truction but also the threat of diplomacy. After making an issue of getting international weapons inspectors back into Iraq, the US is now determinedly preventing a prompt resumption of inspections. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) have reached agreement with Iraq for the return of inspectors later in October, but Washington now insists on the inspection mission being backed by a tough new mandate from the UN Security Council. Clearly, the US intends for the mandate to ensure, not the efficacy of inspections, but the certainty of a confrontation with Iraq. For, the draft US resolution envisages a heavily armed inspection force staffed primarily by US troops which could, at will, declare any part of Iraqi territory an 'exclusion zone' for the Iraqi government. Any protest by Baghdad would constitute a ''material breach of Iraq's obligations'' and ''authorise member states to use all necessary means to restore international peace and security''. The last phrase, of course, is a euphemism for military force. Fortunately, Russia, France and China appear firm in their resolve to block this obnoxious resolution. There is already in place a framework capable of enforcing Iraq's disarmament obligations, provided the US allows it to work objectively. Earlier, Washington had used UNSCOM, UNMOVIC's predecessor organisation, to fulfil the political goal of crippling the Saddam Hussein regime through prolonged sanctions. Indeed, UNSCOM allowed itself to be used for espionage, made unreasonable and provocative demands, and refused to acknow- ledge the success it had achieved in verifiably eliminating more than 98 per cent of Iraq's weapons capabilities. In early 1998, the IAEA certified Iraq's nuclear programme as completely and irrevocably dismantled, and UNSCOM knew by December 1998 that Iraq could no longer make chemical or biological weapons. Any stocks left over from earlier production were � to quote former UNSCOM inspector Scott Ridder � ''worthless goo''. True, Iraq might have restarted its programmes. If so, the world has the right to ensure this is not the case. That is why UNMOVIC must return swiftly to Iraq and do its work within the timeframe envisaged by Security Council resolution 1284. The UN is welcome to consider a fresh resolution in case UNMOVIC is unable to function. By advocating a draconian new resolution as a precondition for the return of inspectors, the US is only trying to provide itself the fig-leaf of a casus belli. The international community must not oblige. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
