Blix to define Iraq disarm tasks

UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix will give the Security Council a report next week defining the remaining disarmament tasks expected of Iraq.

Blix said that council members had shown "considerable interest" in the report when he met them behind closed doors for three hours today (New York time). Council Resolution 1284, which established the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) three years ago, required Blix to submit a program of work for inspectors in Iraq defining the "key remaining disarmament tasks".

The report is due by March 27, but Blix said he would be ready to submit it "sometime next week".

Posted 3/10/2003 7:56 PM Updated 3/10/2003 7:56 PM

Questionable 'evidence' obscures Iraq debate

Turning the United Nations Security Council into a closed-door courtroom, the U.S. argued Monday that U.N. inspectors had clear evidence proving Iraq has failed to disarm: At least one unmanned aircraft that could drop weapons of mass destruction.

The illegal drone was revealed in a written report by chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix on Friday. Yet he skimmed over it in his much-anticipated update on Iraq's disarmament progress the same day. Nor did Blix discuss inspectors' discovery of a new type of Iraqi cluster bomb that could be filled with chemical or biological agents.

SNIP

Blix shrugs off U.S. charges that he buried damaging findings about Iraqi weapon discoveries in his written report rather than highlight them in last week's speech. Yet the 173-page document presents devastating descriptions of Iraq's illegal arsenal. Besides confirming details of the drone aircraft, inspectors increased their estimates of the anthrax stockpiles Saddam is believed to be hiding, from 8,500 liters to 10,000 liters. The report also warned that the number of shells and bombs filled with mustard gas that Saddam failed to account for is likely higher than an earlier estimate of 1,000.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2003-03-10-edit_x.htm

Posted on Mon, Mar. 10, 2003

U.S. Forced to Delay Security Council Vote
DAFNA LINZER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS - President Bush's urgent phone campaign to world leaders, seeking their support for a tough deadline on Iraq, came up short Monday - forcing a delay of the Security Council's vote and opening the doors to a possible compromise to give Saddam Hussein more time.

The United States had hoped to present the resolution to the council on Tuesday, setting a March 17 deadline for Iraqi disarmament or war. But the vote was put on hold when it became evident that America and its allies had not yet won the nine votes they needed for a majority.

But even nine votes wouldn't be enough. French President Jacques Chirac declared that his country would veto any resolution that opened the way to war. The Russians also said they would vote against the proposal as it was currently worded.

Both the United States and Britain said they were willing to negotiate both the deadline and other changes to the resolution.

Among the changes being considered: adding a list of tests - or "benchmarks," as they are called - that the Iraqis must pass to prove their disarmament and cooperation.

Some of the uncommitted countries were talking about delaying the deadline a month, until April 17 - though it was clear that such a proposal stood no chance with the United States, as hundreds of thousands of American soldiers awaited their orders in the Persian Gulf.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said a vote on the resolution would not come Tuesday. He said consultations were ongoing and a vote could come anytime later in the week.

"The vote will be the day we get nine or 10 votes, and I think we're getting close," said Spanish Ambassador Inocencio Arias, whose country is cosponsoring the resolution with the United States and Britain.

But on the surface, at least, Monday was not a good day for the coalition's efforts.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5360929.htm

Chirac To Go To New York

Paris:- Monday, 10. March 2003:- "Nobody can predict in advance the results of a war. They are seldom positive." So said Président Jacques Chirac on TV this evening, when being questioned by journalists from the two main national TV networks here.

He confirmed his intention to go to New York on Tuesday or Wednesday, to attend a session of the Security Council - saying when it comes to a question of war, the highest political leaders are in the ultimate position of responsibility. Only they are capable of making the most crucial decisions.

http://www.metropoleparis.com/811bistr.html

I have about had enough.

I'd say ditto, but it would be a tremendous understatement. We can't continue stuck in this war of words with the weasels. We are stuck in a diplomatic quagmire, spinning our wheels. We have to take action and start speaking with bombs and bullets. If the weasels wish to continue opposing, then they'll have to put their money where their mouths are and oppose us with bombs and bullets as well. Otherwise, they'll just have to shut the hell up.

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