# Bush wanted to provoke Saddam by disguising US spyplanes in UN colours **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 3, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812 "2006-02-03T10:46:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/1 "2006-02-03T10:46:36Z")
[Guardian link](http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1700881,00.html) > [@](#): > > A memo of a two-hour meeting between the two leaders at the White House on January 31 2003 - nearly two months before the invasion - reveals that Mr Bush made it clear the US intended to invade whether or not there was a second UN resolution and even if UN inspectors found no evidence of a banned Iraqi weapons programme. > [@](#): > > The disclosures come in a new edition of Lawless World, by Phillipe Sands, a QC and professor of international law at University College, London. Professor Sands last year exposed the doubts shared by Foreign Office lawyers about the legality of the invasion in disclosures which eventually forced the prime minister to publish the full legal advice given to him by the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith. > > The memo seen by Prof Sands reveals: > > Mr Bush told Mr Blair that the US was so worried about the failure to find hard evidence against Saddam that it thought of “flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft planes with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours”. Mr Bush added: “If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach [of UN resolutions]”. An in-depth Channel 4 news report confirmed this story, having been able to obtain a copy of the memo. Remember this when somewhere down the line it is claimed Syria or Iran have done something outrageous that demands a good ass-kicking. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/2 "2006-02-03T11:01:31Z")
While I’m certainly not one to jump up and defend George W. Bush or the Iraq war, something about this story is setting off my BS detector. Spy planes don’t fly “colors.” A U2 operates at an altitude of between 30,000-70,000 feet [(cite)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_U-2) so even seeing it is going to be a challenge, despite paint. And does the UN even have U2 planes? According to the link I posted, they’re not user-friendly and they’re a bitch to maintain. It would be a terrible embarrassment to the US if they went through with this plan only to realize after the fact that the UN doesn’t have any high-speed high-altitude reconnaisance jets. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/3 "2006-02-03T11:14:39Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > While I’m certainly not one to jump up and defend George W. Bush or the Iraq war, something about this story is setting off my BS detector. Spy planes don’t fly “colors.” A U2 operates at an altitude of between 30,000-70,000 feet [(cite)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_U-2) so even seeing it is going to be a challenge, despite paint. And does the UN even have U2 planes? According to the link I posted, they’re not user-friendly and they’re a bitch to maintain. It would be a terrible embarrassment to the US if they went through with this plan only to realize after the fact that the UN doesn’t have any high-speed high-altitude reconnaisance jets. Well, as the memo exists it clearly is not bullshit unless you are saying both Sands (a highly respected figure in UK legal circles) and an extremely reputable and authorative news organisation are lying. Neither has Downing Street denied it. And the idea was presumably to fly low enough to be shot at because the U2 can fly above intercept range even if fighters can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Pope\_Bob\_The\_Pious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@Pope\_Bob\_The\_Pious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pope_Bob_The_Pious)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/4 "2006-02-03T11:17:57Z")
Apart from the ridiculousness of the ‘U-2 in UN colors’ claim, there is the matter of Iraq shooting at US and UK planes on a fairly regular basis before OIF. If President Bush simply wanted a ‘technical’ violation of the 1991 ceasefire agreement, he already had it, going back several years. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/5 "2006-02-03T11:22:59Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > And does the UN even have U2 planes? According to the link I posted, they’re not user-friendly and they’re a bitch to maintain. It would be a terrible embarrassment to the US if they went through with this plan only to realize after the fact that the UN doesn’t have any high-speed high-altitude reconnaisance jets. And as my cunning google search UN U2 spy plane reveals: [Iraq says no to US spy plane flights](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/21/1042911362592.html) > [@](#): > > Iraq said today it refused during talks with chief UN weapons inspectors to allow American U2 spy planes operating under the banner of the United Nations to fly over its territory. > > “We have reservations to allow spy planes to enter (Iraqi airspace) although they are piloted under UN colours,” presidential adviser Amer al-Saadi, who is in charge of Iraq’s disarmament dossier, told a press conference. In fact this is common knowledge, not anything obscure. They featured heavily in the build-up to war as part of the inspection regime. Hence shooting at a proper authorised UN one would be a breach/excuse for war. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/6 "2006-02-03T11:24:20Z")
> [@Pope Bob The Pious](#): > > Apart from the ridiculousness of the ‘U-2 in UN colors’ claim, there is the matter of Iraq shooting at US and UK planes on a fairly regular basis before OIF. If President Bush simply wanted a ‘technical’ violation of the 1991 ceasefire agreement, he already had it, going back several years. Well, it’s not ridiculous. You people do have Google right? Or did the jerking knee delete your bookmark? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/7 "2006-02-03T11:27:24Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > A U2 operates at an altitude of between 30,000-70,000 feet [(cite)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_U-2) so even seeing it is going to be a challenge, despite paint. > [@Times Article.](#): > > “The US was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours. If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach,” the book reports Mr Bush telling Mr Blair at the meeting. > > If the U2 idea was a serious proposal, it would have made sense only if the spy plane was ordered to fly at an altitude within range of Iraqi missiles. Mr Bush’s reference in the recorded conversation to the U2 being escorted by fighter aircraft indicates that that is what he had in mind. > [@](#): > > And does the UN even have U2 planes? > [@same article](#): > > U2s were made available to the UN weapons inspectors to help them in their search for Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD). But there has never been any suggestion until now that Mr Bush had thought about painting one of them in UN colours to deceive Saddam . [Cite.](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2023128,00.html) So yes, they would be flown with fighter cover (thus at low altitude enough to be shot at) and the UN does have U2’s - weapons inspector ones, too, which suggests that Bush would be able to say “They’re not just shooting at UN troops, but weapons inspectors! They _must_ be hiding something!” ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/8 "2006-02-03T11:34:03Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Well, as the memo exists it clearly is not bullshit unless you are saying both Sands (a highly respected figure in UK legal circles) and an extremely reputable and authorative news organisation are lying. > > Neither has Downing Street denied it. And the idea was presumably to fly low enough to be shot at because the U2 can fly above intercept range even if fighters can’t. Okay so it’s a real memo describing a fictional and impossible situation. So what? I’m sure the Pentagon has memos documenting all kinds of wacky ways of poking at various hornets nests around the world. What is this memo going to prove about the wrongness of the war that hasn’t already been proven by all the other stupidity that’s been discovered so far? That the US is going to attack countries that it doesn’t like by inventing justifications? I’d hardly call that news or a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/9 "2006-02-03T11:39:06Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Okay so it’s a real memo describing a fictional and impossible situation. So what? I’m sure the Pentagon has memos documenting all kinds of wacky ways of poking at various hornets nests around the world. What is this memo going to prove about the wrongness of the war that hasn’t already been proven by all the other stupidity that’s been discovered so far? That the US is going to attack countries that it doesn’t like by inventing justifications? I’d hardly call that news or a surprise. If you want to contribute to this debate read the cites. Great Debates is for debating not parading your extremely limited ability as a Bush Apologist. spy planes under US colours flew as part of the Weapons Inspection process. A memo exists stating that Bush considered using one flying under false colours to provoke an attack. Debate that not your hand-waving fantasies. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/10 "2006-02-03T11:45:33Z")
And no. No Fly Zones are not a UN thing as Downing Street’s own legal advice shows. [Downing Street Memo](http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/iraqlegalbacktext.html) Again - this is common knowledge to anyone who has paid any attention. > [@](#): > > (II) NO FLY ZONES (NFZs) > > 1. The NFZs over Northern and Southern Iraq are not established by UN Security Council Resolutions. They were established in 1991 and 1992 on the basis that they were necessary and proportionate steps taken to prevent a huminitarian [sic] crisis. Prior to the establishment of the Northern NFZ the Security Council had adopted resolution 688 (1991) on 5 April 1991 in which the Council stated that it was gravely concerned by the repression of the Iraqi civilian population in many parts of Iraq, including most recently in Kurdish populated areas, which had led to a massive refugee flow and that it was deeply disturbed by the magnitude of the human suffering involved. The resolution condemned that repression of the Iraqi civilian population and demanded that Iraq immediately end the repression. In our view the purpose of the NFZs is to moniter [sic] Iraqi compliance with the provisions of resolution 688. UK and US air-craft patrolling the NFZs are entitled to use force in self-defence where such a use of force [sic] is a necessary and proportionate response to actual or imminent attack from Iraqi ground systems. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/11 "2006-02-03T11:59:54Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > If you want to contribute to this debate read the cites. Great Debates is for debating not parading your extremely limited ability as a Bush Apologist. > > spy planes under US colours flew as part of the Weapons Inspection process. A memo exists stating that Bush considered using one flying under false colours to provoke an attack. Debate that not your hand-waving fantasies. If, by “contribute to this debate,” you mean “unconditionally adopt my viewpoint and rage,” I’m afraid that you’re about to be sorely disappointed. Put me down in the “so what” category. The Bush (and to lesser extent, Blair) administration have actually done things much more egregious than the scheme outlined in the article. If true believers can dismiss the mountain of acts and deceptions already committed, they’re not going to be swayed by this, and wave it away saying “yeah, he thought about it…big deal…Saddam was a bad guy who had to be taken out by any means.” Those of us already disgusted by the administration’s actions have bigger fish to fry. ---
**Author:** ![Pope\_Bob\_The\_Pious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@Pope\_Bob\_The\_Pious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pope_Bob_The_Pious)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/12 "2006-02-03T12:11:30Z")
Pity that our only ‘source’ for these deck-hugging U-2s is a book which [which doesn’t seem to be the very picture of objectivity.](http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0713997923,00.html) I don’t believe that **tagos** or the author of this purported ‘memo’ understand what a U-2 is. The aircraft is exceedingly slow, and capable of flying at very high altitudes. The U-2, in 2003, was capable of flying high enough that Iraq would not have the techinical means to shoot it down, short of aerial intercept. Any escort we may give to one would not be in the ‘WW2’ style of flying off the wing of the U-2; we we simply have some fighters in the area. Well under the U-2 they would be protecting, mind you. Not to mention, the only color scheme that the USAF U-2s currently wear is black. Those given to NASA wear the white with blue stripes, while those given to the UN wear nothing, because they do not exist. U-2 flights may be undertaken ‘on behalf’ of the UN, but make no mistake: They are USAF aircraft, flown by USAF pilots. Perhaps President Bush should have gotten a SR-71 out of mothballs, strapped a GAU-4 to it, and used it to strafe AQ trucks in Afghanistan. It makes about as much sense as painting a U-2 and intentionally flying it within the enemies engagement envelope. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/13 "2006-02-03T12:15:41Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > If you want to contribute to this debate read the cites. Great Debates is for debating not parading your extremely limited ability as a Bush Apologist. > > spy planes under US colours flew as part of the Weapons Inspection process. A memo exists stating that Bush considered using one flying under false colours to provoke an attack. Debate that not your hand-waving fantasies. Bush apologist? Sorry friend, I’m Canadian. I have no love for Mr. Bush. And yes I would like to actually debate so please stop lobbing insults. The story is a molehill being presented as a mountain. The US couldn’t fly a spy plane painted up as a UN plane because it would require too many people to be in on it from the start, including people at the UN. Have you taken that into account? Let’s say this plan did go through and Iraq shot at the spy plane. Bush goes on TV the next day and says he’s going to kick Iraq’s ass all over the map for the “unprovoked” attack. The day after that, a high official at the UN says “Wait a minute… We didn’t have any spy missions laid on for that day…” That’s what I’m talking about. There’s a reason why the US didn’t use this plan as the basis for starting a war. It’s because it’s not a very good plan. And as I recall in the end result the US didn’t actually end up needing a reason to attack Iraq. They just went ahead and did it anyhow. So why am I supposed to be upset about this memo again? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/14 "2006-02-03T12:27:55Z")
Uhmmm… is the debate here whether some people thought that sending U-2s on a UN mission was something actually considered or not? Because, for a brief time, it was. That’s a fact. Actually, one of the chief Democratic opponents of the war in Iraq suggested it: > [@Senator Carl Levin](#): > > In my view, this means the United States should sponsor a Security Council resolution that would reject Iraq’s conditions on U-2 surveillance flights over Iraq, demand that Iraq not endanger its safety or impede the U-2’s operation, and put Iraq on notice that any action by Iraq that is intended to harm or interfere with the operation of the U-2 would be considered a material breach of resolution 1441 and would be considered an act of war against the United Nations. It also means providing the UN inspectors with as much of the intelligence on Iraq’s suspect weapons of mass destruction sites in our possession as possible. [http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=209058](http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=209058) IIRC, Levin was Chairman of the Armed Services Committee at that time. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/15 "2006-02-03T12:53:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Uhmmm… is the debate here whether some people thought that sending U-2s on a UN mission was something actually considered or not? Because, for a brief time, it was. That’s a fact. Actually, one of the chief Democratic opponents of the war in Iraq suggested it: > > [http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=209058](http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/release.cfm?id=209058) > > IIRC, Levin was Chairman of the Armed Services Committee at that time. Lest someone mis-interpret this as an antecedent/justification for the Bush plan, would it be safe to assume that Senator Levin was proposing using U-2s to search for WMDs , while the Bush administration was proposing using U-2s as decoys? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/16 "2006-02-03T13:42:31Z")
> [@Pope Bob The Pious](#): > > Pity that our only ‘source’ for these deck-hugging U-2s is a book which [which doesn’t seem to be the very picture of objectivity.](http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0713997923,00.html) > > I don’t believe that **tagos** or the author of this purported ‘memo’ understand what a U-2 is. The aircraft is exceedingly slow, and capable of flying at very high altitudes. The U-2, in 2003, was capable of flying high enough that Iraq would not have the techinical means to shoot it down, short of aerial intercept. Any escort we may give to one would not be in the ‘WW2’ style of flying off the wing of the U-2; we we simply have some fighters in the area. Well under the U-2 they would be protecting, mind you. > > Not to mention, the only color scheme that the USAF U-2s currently wear is black. Those given to NASA wear the white with blue stripes, while those given to the UN wear nothing, because they do not exist. U-2 flights may be undertaken ‘on behalf’ of the UN, but make no mistake: They are USAF aircraft, flown by USAF pilots. > > Perhaps President Bush should have gotten a SR-71 out of mothballs, strapped a GAU-4 to it, and used it to strafe AQ trucks in Afghanistan. It makes about as much sense as painting a U-2 and intentionally flying it within the enemies engagement envelope. I understand full well what a U2 is. So you’re saying that sands and Channel 4 News are lying? That the UN did not have U2’s in their colours in Iraq? Well you are just flat out wrong. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/17 "2006-02-03T14:10:32Z")
Jeez - if people can’t even be bothered to inform themselves of commonly known facts why bother. [UN uses U2’s](http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030217-u-2-01.htm) Surely the news that U2’s were used in the build-up to the war to look for WMD’s isn’t a surprise. I can’t believe anyone who feels qualified to comment doesn’t know this. It doesn’t take a google-fu expert to confirm it. From the [Fair and Balanced Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160313,00.html) > [@](#): > > The planes also were used in the 1991 Gulf War, and employed with great success by U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq in the 1990s to uncover advanced weapons development centers, which were later destroyed. And of course they would be painted in UN colours. Not surprisingly there aren’t any pictures readily to hand. To repeat a previous cite > [@](#): > > Blix criticized Iraq for blocking his teams from using an American U-2 spy plane to search for Baghdad’s weapons. > > “There are areas where we are not satisfied and the U-2 is one of them,” Blix said. > > U-2 flights were a mainstay of the first hunt for Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction from 1991-1998. American pilots flew them. > > , but the plane, used by the United States for reconnaissance since the 1950s, **was repainted in U.N. colors** and followed flight paths ordered by U.N. inspectors. [Weapons Inspectors convene](http://www.thebatt.com/media/paper657/news/2003/01/24/Worldnation/Weapons.Inspectors.Convene-515318.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.thebatt.com) So unless you’re arguing that c4 and Sands (who produced the infamous Downing Street memo) are liars then this plan was considered by Bush. Downing Street have not issued a denial. So Bush considered the plan. The UN used U2’s painted in UN colours on approved flights. Feel free not to be outraged, feel free not to remember it when Syria or Iran allegedly pull some bullshit stunt. Maybe there is no debate other than how dare they even consider such a stunt. It is further proof what lying sons of bitches Blair and Bush are. But no news there I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/18 "2006-02-03T14:14:56Z")
[Saddam agrees to U2 flights](http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030211-iraq01.htm) > [@](#): > > As France, Russia and Germany called for strengthened UN weapons inspections in Iraq, the Hussein government agreed Monday to allow U-2 spy planes to conduct aerial surveillance of suspected weapons sites, a longtime UN demand. Iraqi officials also provided more documents about potential weapons programs. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/19 "2006-02-03T14:22:47Z")
> [@Pope Bob The Pious](#): > > Perhaps President Bush should have gotten a SR-71 out of mothballs, strapped a GAU-4 to it, and used it to strafe AQ trucks in Afghanistan. It makes about as much sense as painting a U-2 and intentionally flying it within the enemies engagement envelope. That would’ve been sweet. If incredibly stupid. What would you paint a UN U-2 anyway? Baby-blue? And I swear there’s a Bono joke somewhere in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812/20 "2006-02-03T14:32:51Z")
From Colin Powell’s UN presentation - scroll dpwn to see Slide 17. a U2 in UN livery [Horse’s mouth](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030205-1.html#17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-provoke-saddam-by-disguising-us-spyplanes-in-un-colours/342812.md?page=2)