-Caveat Lector- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-09/08/content_554147.htm
Ex-UN inspector warns against war on Iraq Xinhuanet 2002-09-08 01:23:55 BAGHDAD, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting former UN arms inspector Scott Ritter warned on Sunday that the United States would make a "historical mistake" if it launches war on Iraq, while urging Iraq to accept an unconditional resumption of UN weapons inspections. Ritter, a US national who had been a member of the UN inspectionteam before 1998, said in an address to Iraq's parliament that the United States "seems to be on the verge of making a historical mistake." US President George W. Bush, who accused Iraq of pursuing weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorists by providing them with such weapons, has repeatedly vowed to achieve a "regime change" in Iraq with all the tools at his disposal, including military actions. But Bush's concerns were not shared by Ritter, a tough inspector-turned sharp critic of US policy on Iraq. "The truth is that Iraq is not a threat to its neighbors and it is not acting in a manner which threatens anyone outside its borders," Ritter told members of parliament and journalists. He urged Iraq to prove it by allowing UN inspectors back to the country, who left Iraq on the eve of the US-British "Operation Desert Fox" airstrikes against Baghdad in December 1998. "The only path towards peace Iraq should embrace is the one thatbegins by Iraq agreeing to the immediate, unconditional return of UN weapons inspectors operating in full keeping with the mandate asset forth by existing UN Security Council resolutions," the former US Marine officer said. He said Iraq's cooperation with the United Nations on inspections is the "best way to prevent the war." Iraq has been under sweeping UN sanctions since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the embargo will not be lifted until the UN has verified that Iraq has eliminated all of its weapons of mass destruction and means of launch them. Continuous spats about alleged espionage activities between Iraqand the UN arms inspectors led to crisis in 1997 and 1998, and eventually the US-British air war against Baghdad from Dec. 16-19, 1998. Since then Iraq has remained defiant, arguing that its weapons of mass destruction -- nuclear, chemical and biological -- have already been dismantled. Enditem <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
