1. Ritter was a marine and served honorably.
Glad to hear it. That has zero relevance to the question at hand. Marines are not gods, nor are they omniscient, nor does the fact that one served in The Corps give everything they say the sheen of truth and honesty.
2. He was distinguished enough to get a high-profile role on the US Inspection Team.
Nice. Good for him. But what, exactly, does that have to do with the question at hand: Which Ritter to believe, Version 1998, or Version 2002?
3. He was a vocal critic during the inspection time when he felt that the inspections were not fully effective and that they were prevented from getting everything and full access.
Yes. This is what makes his current behavior so bizzare.
4. He later added that his conclusion was that the inspection team, led by Butler and with Butler's apparent approval, was in fact spying on Iraq, probably with the idea of a regime change, which was not something authorized by the Agreements, and certainly something that Hussein would not agree to.
Of course the U.N. inspectors were "spies" -- though overt ones. They were trying to determine whether or not Iraq was violating the terms of the cease fire. And let's note that the idea that Butler was a "spy" for the U.S. is backed up by nothing other than Ritter's opinion -- which happens to be Iraqi propaganda. Meanwhile, the existance of Iraq's ongoing WMD program is verified by several other U.N. inspectors and plenty of defected Iraqis. Based on that reality, I think we should look more suspiciously upon Ritter than on Butler.
5. If Saddam found out that this Inspection Team was spying (which he probably suspected would happen all the time) it would not be difficult to blame him for not cooperating with the Inspectors afterward.
Saddam didn't cooperate with inspectors from DAY ONE. And he used the "spy" excuse as propaganda -- just like the supposed "Baby Milk Factory" nonsense.
Aren't you just a little disturbed by the sight of a former Marine leading the press on Saddam-approved tours of innocent factories, as if that "proves" anything other than we are seeing what Saddam wants us to see? Aren't you a little disturbed by the realization that a former Marine takes the word of known murderers and liars over that of his own president? "Make the case, Mr. Bush"? The case has been made. But Ritter is either too brainwashed, paid-off, or delusional to see it.
And so, apparently, are you.
Scott Ritter left the inspection team for "personal reasons" he's never defined.
He applied for a job with the CIA but was rejected when he FAILED the polygraph test and the FBI background check.