Since the cease fire that ended the Gulf War, Iraq could have cooperated at any time and gotten the economic sanctions removed.
As I’ve said before, Saddam could come to Washington, stay in the Lincoln Bedroom, and pose for photo ops. with George I, II, and the whole family. Saddam: “Sorry about the whole ‘assasination’ thing, Mr. Bush.”
Why doesn’t he call our bluff and truly cooperate? What about the scientists, why the secrecy if there is no weapons program of significance?
Methinks Blix speaks with forked tongue.
In other words, I can’t reconcile the two quotes. Mine, I believe, took place on 1/27.
It is, however, up to the UN to get a credible account from him and decide what to do next. I can’t believe that informed decisions can only be made by Americans.
It’s like a surreal Twelve Angry Men where a single juror leaves the others behind in their deliberations, dashes into the courtroom, and kills the defendant.
You are aware that Texas isn’t a country, right?
For the love of god. Of course Texas is a country. What do you think it is, some mythical land beyond the pillars of Hercules? The capital is Texarkana, if I remember correctly.
Has that somehow become true in the time since the inspectors withdrew of their own accord back in 1998, or are you just trying to pull a fast one ?
I stand corrected, and amend my statement to say that the inspectors were constructively evicted.
You’re onto a loser on that one, Rhum Runner. Clinton withdrew the Inspectors and then ordered four days of bombing immediately before his Impeachment hearing was due to begin – as is the way with politics, the two events were in no way related. No sir, not at all.
On cooperation while they were still in Iraq, the since proven fact that – as Saddam claimed – the whole UNSCOM mission was a cover for both US and Israeli spies rather tainted their credibility. Unfortunately for Clinton, Saddam still didn’t throw ‘em out … so in the end, he withdrew them and managed to distract (a little) from his impeachment hearing by ordering the bombardment (which may have killed up to 60 Iraqi civilians).
Interestingly, the US military claimed to have destroyed piles of Saddam’s bio’s and chem’s - the very stuff they now claim Saddam is hiding … funny old world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/crisis_in_the_gulf/latest_news/238847.stm
That might be, but I’m not going down without a fight, damn it! 
If I can go back to the OP just of a second…
IANAISOA (ISO auditor), but I have been through the audit process for both 9000 and 14000. I finished a 14000 pre-audit week before last.
I disagree with the statement about benefit of doubt and building a case. In my 14000 audit (enviromental probably closer to what is going on Iraq than 9000) The auditor picked some chemicals from the storage cabinet and asked for the Material Data Safety Sheet. If I could not produce the MDSS I got written up. The burden of proof is on me. That is guilty until I prove otherwise.
So as far as I am concerned what is going on in Iraq is not unlike an ISO audit, except the inspectors in Iraq are probably easier than ISO auditors. 
Rick, 14000, and probably state law, require you to have an MSDS. The auditor didn’t come in and say, “OK, I’ve written you up for a violation, now prove it doesn’t exit.”
He found chemicals, then gave you a chance to show you were in compliance.
Actually, Waverly the violation is implied if Rick doesn’t provide the data sheets.
What Iraq is doing now is like Rick saying,“Oh, I have the data sheets, but you can’t see them. But I have them. They are over there. In that locked cabinet. What? No, you can’t go in there.”
As I said, redguy, the observation of the chemicals came first, and Rick had a chance to produce the MSDS before it is logged as a violation. In fact, if I were doing the audit, I’d give him an hour or two if he didn’t have them immediately available. If he were conscientious, he would have no trouble getting a hold of them, and I would close the matter with nothing but a firm recommendation that they take a close look at all their chemicals. This isn’t guilty until proven innocent; it is following a chain of evidence.
And redguy, do you have a cite detailing circumstances where weapons inspectors were told that something existed yet they would not be allowed to look at it? My understanding of any criticism is that the Iraqis would produce anything that was specifically asked for, but it was their tendency to wait until asked that was at issue.