The world community has waited for hard proof of Iraq's deceptive movement of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons as a means to avoid the U.N. weapons inspectors. After U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation yesterday, we know this much--Iraq is hiding something from us:
--Iraq had facilities in various parts of their country where they could manufacture weapons of mass destruction. Once the inspectors come, they are nowhere to be seen.
--Iraq has violated U.N. resolution 1441's stipulation of unfettered access to Iraqi scientists by barring certain scientists from speaking to the inspectors.
--Iraq has not demonstrated the current status of the biological, nuclear and chemical agents that they had in the 1990s inspections.
As much as we would like to avoid conflict, we need to recognize that Saddam Hussein is hiding something from the world, and without greater disclosure, military action may be inevitable.
The Bush administration needs to tactfully reach a consensus of material breach with our allies for the sake of relations and ease of regime change. Statements of military action have left our allies feeling left out of a decision-making process in which international law grants them a part. Instead, President Bush painfully overplayed his hand with Iraq. As early as a year ago, when he identified Iraq as a bastion of evil, Bush left little doubt about his intentions for the nation.
The case against Iraq would have a higher probability of success with the consent and assistance of the United Nations, who, in all the uproar over unilateral action and smoking guns has failed to set its own standards for unacceptable Iraqi behavior.
We can all agree that the peaceful disarming of Iraq would be the best solution in this matter. We endorse continuing inspections with more inspectors and a stronger process. American troops in the Persian Gulf provide an opportunity for militarily escorted inspectors to add gravity to the process.
While past U.S. and U.N. actions have ensured that no ideal solution is likely, an internationally cooperative movement to disarm Iraq will best facilitate the process of defusing the situation in the Middle East.
