Haim,
You have to bear in mind that the Arab nations are not exactly jumping to stick up for Hussein or moderate the US position.
The US has the Arabs over a barrel since the Saudi's are looking for US investment in their oil industry.
As for one billion muslims supporting Saddam, I kinda doubt it, unless we do something stupid like bombing civilian targets.
It is a far different world now than it was in 1990 and I don't see a lot people willing to risk upsetting the US, one of the last great bastions of global economic strength, over a secular, two-bit dictator, trying to play a modern "Saladin".
Lest we all forget, Saddam came to power as a member of that Baathist party, the Arab equivalent of socialism. He and his primary leadership come from a minority sunni muslim population centered in Takrit, Iraq. (Similiar to Hafez Assad of Syria whose minority Alawite group control that country)
Also, given that one of Saddam's all-time favorite movies is "The Godfather", you can expect that he won't be too willing to let up on his personal control of his security state. Too many people looking to replace him.
Saddam is a very paranoid personality, especially since his own personal bodyguard was involved in an assasination attempt against him some years ago. For him to maintain internal power, he can't have UN/US inspectors undermining his image of absolute internal power.
Tippet's news article on the rejection by the US of Hussein's letter was to be expected. I heard it this afternoon on the news and when it came to the part that "US inspectors would be permitted to resume their "normal" duties", I knew that was the catch phrase.
UN inspectors have not been able to fully perform their responsibilities, as former inspector Scott Ritter has revealed. So return to the prior status quo is unacceptable to the US, and unacceptable to Saddam.
Someone will have to blink and it will be interesting to see who makes the next move toward checkmate.
(Have you noticed that I love this kind of analysis stuff... :0)
Regards,
Ron
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