Hi Bobert,

We agree to differ. I can see no difference on the basis the inspectors are going back in on now to what was in place before. Neither you, the French, the Russians, or the United Nations can demonstrate to me that anythings changed. Assurances from the Iraqi Government I take with a pinch of salt - past experience has shown them to be worthless.

The sticking point on the unconditional access centres round the eight, or is it eleven, "Presidential" Sites. As they were only created in December 1997, they are not covered by existing UN Resolution - so Saddam has a fairly good case for not allowing anyone into them - the UN can't demand entry without a new resolution - that's what Bush and Blair want.

Go in without that and we get the same old run-around we got the last time. End result might be a bit different, UK's JIC estimates that within the next two years they'll have the bomb, that's roughly how long it will take to get the UN and the UNSC onboard to use military intervention. Only reason inspectors have been invited to return is down to Bush - no-one else, a fact you guys have a great amount of difficulty dealing with.

Your suggested motives:

1. Bush does not see himself as a conqueror by being *reasonable*.

Who exactly is he conquering?

2. Bush desperately wants to keep the drums beating ludly thru the elections.

Absolutely - I don't know a politician on earth who would do otherwise in the same situation - nature of the beast.

3. Bush's folks need a war to keep out tax bucks going into their military industrail complex.

Didn't help them the last time - What's changed?. War is not good for business, with the current WORLD economic situation the potential damage would be incalculable.

4. Like his father, Bush is ill prepared to deal with domestic issues that tend to not only bore him but also involve giving something back to the working class.

Purely American political perception upon which I cannot comment.

5. Bush sees the US role in shaping a new world order as the bully-boss who woulod rather hears its own self talk than to listen to others.

Goes against anything America has done since the end of World War Two.

6. And of course there's the legacy factor in that through removing Saddam he would go a long way toward helping the revisionists who would like to clear Senior's name. Not to be lost here, he also would like to have a coonskin to nail on his own wall.

Another view of promoting the legacy factor is that with Saddam gone and major restructuring in Iraq underway (with massive assistance from the western democracies), there is a far better chance of solving the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

7. And there is also the issue of the War on Terrorism which frankly may not be going the way Bush had hoped. He hasn't caight bin Laden and well, the who thing has just lost that *new war* sparkle.

The War on Terrorism has gone pretty much as expected. Al-Quaeda attacks since WTC ? Hasn't caught bin Laden - no conclusive proof he's dead or alive. The organisation he founded is on the run and more and more gets found out about with every passing month. Indication of that is the profile of those getting caught are of increasing importance to their operation.

8. Afganistan appears to be heading back to rule of the meanist and strongest warlords rather than toward a model of "nation building".

Don't tell me that you were expecting immediate results Bobert - these things take time - a great deal of it (talking decades actually).

9. And least not forget the US economy is in the crapper.

Take a good look round the rest of the world Bobert the World Economy is in the crapper.

10. Because he can. The War Powers Act has not been used since 1941 but that hasn't stopped one president after another fromn waging "war".

Who have you been at war with Bobert?, Korea was a United Nations shindig, Vietnam was that a war? when was that war declared? Or these for that matter; Nicaragua? Grenada? Panama? Somalia was a UN party also but not a war. The last Gulf War, the one after which Saddam agreed to do all those nice things but did nothing, was a UN action to liberate Kuwait.

I can see clearly why he would delay the entry of the inspectors into Iraq. If Saddam manages to fool them this time round, he knows he's home and dry. His immediate neighbours and the rest of the world will pick up the bill later - at a much greater cost.

Cheers,

Teribus.