Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(October 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Weapons Inspectors.
 In
a recent speech, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
remarked that a new United Nations resolution was required
stating that if Iraq fails to respond within a specified
time limit to full and unconditional weapons inspection
and the destruction of any weapons of mass destruction that
they posses, that the United Nations will give authorization
for the United States, to conduct military action against
Iraq.
As you can see, the new resolution that the United States
wants, not only includes unconditional access for the international
weapons inspection teams but has apparently has added a
clause which includes the destruction of any and all weapons
of mass destruction that Iraq possesses. (Please notice
the words do not say, “Any and all weapons of mass
destruction that the weapons inspectors find”.
 Secretary
of State Colin L. Powell in a later speech, (apparently
to reiterate Rumsfeld’s previous comments), also included,
that he will forbid the entry of weapons inspectors into
Iraq without a new United Nations resolution which includes
a mandate stipulating that, “If Iraq fails to respond
within a specific time limit to full and unconditional inspection
of all its weapon sites, nuclear, chemical, biological,
(or whatever), that the United Nations will give its authorization
for the United States to conduct military action against
Iraq” or words to that effect.
Who is dictating to whom? I didn’t know that Colin
Powell had the authority to “forbid” the entry
of an International Weapons Inspection team into Iraq, or
any other country for that matter!!!
Russia, France, and many other nations expressed strong
opinions that there was no need for a new resolution until
inspection was complete and all political negotiations deemed
necessary to ensure a peaceful settlement had been exhausted.
It must be noted that Russia, France and China are permanent
members of the United Nations Security Council and have
VETO power within the United Nations.
 Washington
dismissed Saddam Hussein’s letter to the Secretary
of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, as a pure delaying tactic.
Saddam Hussein was reported to have said in a later statement
that although the international weapons inspection team
would have full and unrestricted access, they would also
have to notify and obtain permission from Iraqi Officials
prior to visiting certain sites such as palaces and religious
shrines.
One Republican Senator even made an arrogant statement
suggesting that the United States should not have to seek
permission from the United Nations or any other source before
going to war to protect the citizens of the United States.
Do I have to reiterate one more time that American foreign
policy lacks tact and diplomacy?
What do you think?
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