I appreciate your response, Brumar. It was a thoughtful one and worthy of consideration. However, I still disagree and for several reasons.
First, after being repelled by UN coalition fores, mostly led by the US, Iraq has militarily threatened no nation since. Furthermore, there's no evidence that Iraq has enaged in any terrorist activities and any fear existing herein on this seems only a fear of convenience.
Secondly, Iraq did not kick out the weapons inspectors. As I understand the history--and someone please do correct me if I'm wrong--Iraq accused US members of the inspection team as being CIA spies (something which Ritter later confirmed) and he kicked those specific members out of the country.
Well, when that sort of thing happens, the party that pulls out, or is forced to pull out, more than not will convey wishes upon the larger body that it should pull out. And just as Belgium appeal to the UN to pull out of Rwanda, so the US appealed to the UN to pull out of Iraq. I think that's how it happened.
Blame to Clinton, blame to Bush--yes, blame 'em all! As much as I think Bush used Iraq for the congressional elections, I think Clinton used Iraq and other nations as sidescapes from the Lewinsky charges.
Essentially, what we have is a problem of leadership. Sincere leadership. Hey, Hans Blix seems fair. Why not put him in charge of inspecting the whole world--lol! Think we'd be shocked by what he'd find? I think so. |
