Thursday, November 28, 2002

Let's play weapons inspectors and dictator
Niles Latham is apparently the only one on duty at the NY Post. First there is U.N. Weapons Hunt Farce:
Weapons inspectors began their hunt for Saddam Hussein's secret arsenals yesterday in a circus-like atmosphere that included a car crash, a team getting lost, and the sounding of an air-raid siren over Baghdad just as a "surprise" visit was about to happen.
...
At one point there was an hour-long traffic jam involving the inspectors and the media after two cars carrying journalists crashed into each other.

One team of inspectors also got lost and dove along the same road twice. They did not ask their Iraqi minders for directions for fear of disclosing the destination of their so-called surprise visit.

And adding to the drama was the wailing of air raid sirens over Baghdad at around 8:30 a.m. - just as the U.N. weapons teams left their headquarters to begin their unannounced visits to Iraqi sites.

Iraqi officials claimed that a "hostile flight" was spotted over the Iraqi capital - but Pentagon brass said there were no U.S. or coalition aircraft anywhere near Baghdad and it was likely the air raid sirens were to tip off Iraqi military and security around town that the U.N. teams were on the move.
Where's Clouseau when you need him?

Then Construction Sites May Be Mosque-ing Arms Development:
Two giant mosques that are under construction in Baghdad - and not on the weapons inspectors' list to visit - have aroused suspicion that they are being used to hide weapons of mass destruction.

Outside experts have expressed concern about the mosques because of their massive size and their location in sensitive areas.

When construction is completed, they will be the largest mosques in the entire Middle East - each occupying more than 11 acres of land.

The mosques also are being built in militarily sensitive areas, off limits to ordinary Iraqis who may wish to worship in them.
Nothing to see here - move along!

Finally the Chief Inspector himself weighs in - Blix: I'm No Expert, So Who Needs Me?:
U.N. honcho Hans Blix yesterday insisted there is no reason for him to be in Baghdad because he's a lawyer, not a weapons expert - and admitted his title of chief U.N. weapons inspector is a misnomer.

Defending himself in the face of questions about why he is not in Iraq overseeing the inspections of suspected biological, chemical and nuclear warfare sites, Blix told reporters at the United Nations:

"I am responsible for the operation politically to the Security Council and negotiations with Iraq. I need to be here with the Security Council.
Typical U.N. operation - 99% of it is swapping spit. Hmmm ... maybe I got the spelling wrong.