Saddam might be lying, but give process a chance”I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the government of the Republic of Iraq to allow the return of the United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq without conditions.” – Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Naji Sabri, in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
“This is a tactical step by Iraq in hopes of avoiding strong U.N. Security Council action. As such, it is a tactic that will fail.” – Text of a statement by the White House in response to Iraq’s offer. Thirteen days ago, President Bush stood before the world and issued an ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein: Comply with United Nations resolutions or face military action.
On Sept. 16, you might say, Saddam blinked. His decision to permit the resumption of weapons inspections, suspended four years ago, signals at the very least Iraq’s fear that the United States is prepared to back its tough talk with even tougher action.
It also acknowledges Baghdad’s recognition that this time, unlike a dozen years ago when the United States invaded Iraq only after forging a strong international coalition, America is willing to go it alone.
Clearly, no one in his right mind trusts Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi dictator has been defying the United Nations for close to a decade.
This latest gesture could indeed be a “tactical step” to undercut the United States and erode whatever support it might have for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq.
Nevertheless, Washington’s response to the Iraqi offer – a flat-out rejection – sends a message that the Bush administration is more interested in doing what it wants to do than in U.N. resolutions or in world opinion.
“This is not a matter of inspections,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.
Since when?
Until now, the United States has fully supported enforcement of U.N. Security Council conditions placed on Iraq after the Gulf War, a major one of which was inspections to verify that Iraq has destroyed any arsenal of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons it might have and isn’t building any more.
Now, with Iraq finally agreeing to those inspections, the United States seems to have upped the ante. Inspections are no longer enough. The Bush administration almost appears determined to start shooting.
While there is good reason to be skeptical of Iraq’s sudden desire to cooperate, there is also better reason to give Saddam a chance to do just that.
The Iraqi government’s offer is unequivocal and plain for all to see: “To allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq without conditions.”
The United States and the rest of the world have much to gain and little to lose by allowing Iraq a reasonable opportunity to follow through with its proposal. If Saddam is willing to allow inspectors to go where they want to go and see what they want to see in order to avoid an outbreak of hostilities, what’s wrong with that? Inspections are certainly preferable to war.
Should Saddam change his mind, there will be plenty of time to bring on the big guns. He knows that and we know that.
Before we launch an invasion, however, let’s give diplomacy another chance.