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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (149865)	10/29/2004 4:45:27 PM
From: Michael Watkins	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

I find your faith in the United Nations touching. I do not share it. I applaud multilateral action. I decry the lack of attention the US has put into shoring up the UN. The UN and related agencies can only be improved with US focus; they will not improve if the US ignores them. Despite your opinion, the CIA acknowledges that the UN agencies and sanctions - sanctions and resolutions which the US had a direct role in approving - were particularly effective. From the CIA report, verbatim: Fact: It appears to have taken time, but Iraq eventually realized that sanctions were not going to end quickly. Reality: Left to his own devices, Husayn would have tried to reconsitute programs. That is not under dispute. What is under dispute is whether improving enforcement would work. Reality? Yes. Fact: In late 2002 Iraq was under increasing pressure from the international community to allow UN inspectors to return. Iraq in November accepted UNSCR 1441 and invited inspectors back into the country. In December Iraq presented to the UN its Currently Accurate, Full, and Complete Declaration (CAFCD) in response to UNSCR 1441. While the CAFCD was judged to be incomplete and a rehash of old information, it did provide details on the Al Samud II, Al Fat’h, new missile-related facilities, and new small UAV designs. Reality: In simple words, Saddam did what he was told, because of increased pressure. Pressure worked. Fact: In February 2003 the UN convened an expert panel to discuss the Al Samud II and Al Fat’h programs, which resulted in the UN’s decision to prohibit the Al Samud II and order its destruction. Missile destruction began in early March but was incomplete when the inspectors were withdrawn later that month. Fact: It was GEORGE W BUSH who ordered the inspectors withdrawn. REALITY: There is no reason NOT to believe that further pressure and inspections and observed destruction would not have continued to contain Saddam's attempts to violate sanctions.