Short and simple.
What is the U.S. view on Hans Blix’s work? I don’t have a clear picture of this and would very much like to hear from the U.S. community. Is his reports interesting at all? Is he considered to be Iraqi friendly, U.S. friendly etc. etc.
In Sweden the common view is that he’s got the worst job ever but that it is of importance and that he’s doing it fairly good.
Having G.W. on poor Hans butt sure dosn’t make his job any easier.
This citizen of the US thinks that Mr. B is doing a pretty good job keeping us informed as to Madas’s (what you didn’t know that Sadam spelled backwards is Mad Ass?) shenanigans. Of course, whatever I say about the information Mr B dutifully gives, or what the UN Decides, or not decides to do with it is irrelevent.
I’m sure if our Executive branch had thier way, we’d all think that Blixx was a wimpy cheeter who understates the truth and incompetetly boobs his way through his appointed task. (assigned to him of course by other incompetent boobs) One who is whoosed by the Iraqui’s at every turn. One who the other Citizens of the US should stand up and say, “We don’t believe you” Unfortunatly for George, and fortunatly for the World, We ain’t that ingnorant.
In the meantime, let’s all hope, or pray if you wish, that the International world (Are you listening here Geo. because this includes you) come to a way to get Sadam to go along with 1441 without the shedding of any blood. I would be a bit ashamed to be a citizen of the country that has given up and went to war.
I think I’ll wait on a reply until this gets moved over to IMHO.
:smack: Aaaah, yes, my fault…
Knead
Hey, Joe?
Joe
Yeah?
Knead
What’s your opinion on Hans Blix’s work?
Joe
Who?
Hans seems to be a nice enough guy, and is clearly trying to strike a balance in his reports, acknowledging that Saddam is resisting, but also noting progress each time. The problem I see is that he seems to think that it’s his burden to disarm Iraq, when all he’s supposed to do is tour the facilities, and see if there’s anything that they have that is on the list of no-nos, which was not declared in the giant-ass statement. The minute he sees such a thing, be it an empty chem/biowarfare shell, a bunch of missles that go too far, or a drone aircraft, he should snap a picture, turn on his heels, go to the UN, report his finding, and allow the severe penatlies called for in 1441 to commence.
So, he seems okay, and is probably not pushing any major agenda, but has misunderstood his job description.
Oh, and he has a cool-ass last name.
All, of course, IMHO.
Funny. 
But, possibly too true. I also don’t know if SDMB is the place to find “average Joe’s”.
I tend to agree with the opinion expressed in the OP. I also don’t think it really matters what he does. If Iraq actually has serious chemical/biological weapons, they aren’t going to let him find them.
If you were looking for the results of a scientific survey of a representative cross-section of the American populace done by a reputable polling firm (such as Gallup), this thread would belong in GQ. If you’re looking for the opinions of individual dopers, this thread belongs in IMHO. I’m guessing you’re looking for the latter, so I’ll move this thread to IMHO.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
Um… he kinda sucks?
I’ll second that. I personally think he’s kind of a wuss. I think he probably likes to dress up in fishnet tights when he’s alone.
But then again that’s just my opinion.
He’s doing a tough job, and is doing his best to treat all sides in a fair and diplomatic manner. Of course that means that those folks who have an agenda, Saddam and Bush for example, don’t much approve of the way he does things.
He’s doing a good job. He understands his job better than a large percentage of the population that thinks he is there to find weapons. In order to do his job, he needs to be able to deal with the Iraqis and he can’t do that by being a hard-ass. He has reported to the Security Council and they are the one’s that are being wusses and/or assholes. As is human nature, he may be inclined to say and do things in order to maintain his job, even if it is only because it makes him somebody important.
He has got to have one of the most dangerous jobs around. I really wonder how close he and the other inspectors are to getting a bullit in the back of the neck at the slightest sign of trouble. Think about it. If he gets the order to evacuate, the Iraqis would know that lead rain is coming and snatch his ass as a bargining chip. Probably wouldn’t work out for them, but any thing that happens next is bad for Mr. Blix.
Incidentally, I wonder how much of an “accident” that really was that killed that inspector the other day?
Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore.
This was in our school paper, and I think is the greatest line I’ve heard about him–
“Too bad politicians wear suits instead of jerseys like athletes do. I’d totally buy the Hans Blix throwback jersey.”