by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright January 17, 2003
All Rights Reserved.

ooking under every rock, U.N. weapons inspectors found a small—but significant—cache containing 12 empty chemical weapons warheads, confirming administration suspicions that Saddam hasn't coughed up his weapons of mass destruction. U.N. Resolution 1441 required Iraq to voluntarily "disgorge" itself of all biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, delivery systems and materiel. Baghdad signed off with its much-ballyhooed official 12,000-page declaration, stipulating all its banned weapons and components. Inspecting a warhead with magnifying glass at Iraq's Ukhaider weapons depot 75-miles south Baghdad, inspection team leader Dimitri Perricos concluded his discovery was "not a smoking gun" enough to trigger a war. U.N. inspectors aren't the ones determining "material breach," or deciding U.S. options, including the use of force.

      Playing his cards close to the vest, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called the discovery "troubling and serious," though stopping short of calling it a "material breach." Iraq discounted Perricos' find as inconsequential, insisting that the 12 warheads were already listed in Iraq's Dec. 8 official declaration. "It is neither chemical, neither biological," said Gen. Hussam Mohammed Amin, head of Iraq's Monitoring Directorate, making excuses how chemical warheads turned up. Once Iraq stipulated on Dec. 8 that they possessed no banned materiel they were in "material breach" of U.N. Resolution 1441. Having taken four-years to relocate and hide their weapons of mass destruction, Iraq welcomed U.N. inspectors with open arms. Since resuming inspections Nov. 27, Iraq launched its propaganda offensive dictating how "smoking guns" constituted a "material breach."

      Leary of White House intentions, European Union officials seized the unexpected news as proof that inspections were working. "This confirms that they are doing their job well. They must continue," said Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, urging the U.S. to give inspectors more time. With his initial report due out Jan. 27, Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix wants to extend the deadline—though the White House has other ideas. "We can expect more of this, no question. They'll probably find several other omissions with only quasi-explanations," said Richard O. Spertzel, former head U.N. biological weapons inspections. According to Spertzel, it's difficult to expect a "smoking gun" with loaded munitions. If seven-years of inspections haven't produced a "smoking gun," it's not likely this time around. Iraq's propaganda machine has apparently set the "smoking gun" as a precondition for war.

      Because U.N. resolution 1441 required Iraq to purge itself of all weapons of mass destruction, Perricos' discovery represented significant evidence of "material breach." "That is a big deal," said Sen. John Kyle (R-Ariz.), believing that Iraq's failure to disclose the warheads constitutes a clear "material breach." "The fact this Iraq is in possession of undeclared chemical warheads, which the United Nations says are in excellent condition, is troubling and serious," said Fleischer reminding the U.N. that the U.S. would set its own parameters for taking remedial actions. Judging by the amount of troops and equipment steaming toward the Persian Gulf, it would appear the White House doesn't put too much stock into Iraqi promises. Even the ever-optimistic Hans Blix, set to visit Baghdad this Sun., Jan. 19, characterized the situation as "very tense and dangerous," especially Iraq's reluctance to allow scientists unsupervised interviews.

      While the world waits for "smoking guns," the White House grows increasing impatient with Iraq's stalling tactics. Few officials expected Saddam to come clean or for inspectors to find Iraq's hidden stockpile of illicit weapons. "It's up to Saddam Hussein to do what the entire world has asked him to do," said President Bush in a speech Thursday in Scranton, Penn. "So far, the evidence hasn't been very good that he is disarming. And time is running out. At some point in time, the United States patience will run out." While the U.N. remains critical of U.S. actions, they're not responsible for fighting the war on terrorism or defending national security. Since Sept. 11, the U.S. seeks a new preemptive strategy, including dealing with rogue regimes that threaten national interests. Despite emerging threats on the Korean Peninsula, few can deny the U.S. strategic interests—and vulnerability—in the Persian Gulf.

      Since Dec. 8, Iraq has been in full material breach of U.N. Resolution 1441. Baghdad was given one "last" chance to come clean, promising to declare and destroy all weapons of mass destruction. Thursday's discovery proves that Saddam has no intention of disarming, only blowing more smoke at the world community. Unlike North Korea, Iraq sits at the world's most dangerous intersection of Islamic terrorism, now threatening U.S. national security. Regime change in Iraq should neutralize a gathering Iranian threat, now feverishly pursuing, with the help of Pakistan's legendary bomb maker Abdul Qadeer Khan, the next "Islamic" bomb. Ridding the region of Saddam Hussein eliminates at least one global enemy preoccupied with harming the United States. With the U.S. gearing up for Iraq, Korea and Iran must wait until the war on terrorism takes yet another turn. Until then, the world awaits Saddam's last stand.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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