Ah Blackadder,

From the Guardian:

Points relating to the leaked draft resolution:


· The US (as a permanent member of the UN security council) can ask to be present in any inspection team and thus gain access to any part of the country.

Can't see anyhting wrong with that? The bit in brackets also implies that Britain, France, Russia and China could do the same.

· The inspectors can set up bases throughout the country. They will be accompanied at those bases by soldiers under the UN banner sufficient to protect them.

Well they have been threatened in the past, warning shots, threats - but then the UNSCOM boys could have been joking about all that. They would also go in as UN troops - I don't believe for one minute that they'd be American (Turkish, Irish, Nigerian, Norwegian, etc. i.e. the usual suspects)

· The UN will have the right to declare no-fly, no-drive and exclusion zones, ground and air transit corridors, to be enforced either by the UN or by member states which could include the US

It avoids embarrassing episodes like those UN inspectors stuck in that car park for four days. It avoids those ever so convenient traffic accidents and traffic jams, when the lads want to get to work.

· Iraq must agree to free and unrestricted landing of aircraft, including unmanned spy planes

Guarantees access for whatever specialist as and when they are required. Also ensures that aircraft (helicopters) are available at all times and that flight plans are not tampered with. It also makes this clear understanding that this time the Iraqi's cannot interfere with helicopter operations, or threaten the safety of their (UN) aircraft and crews. Aw well maybe they were just joking about that too.

· The UN can take anyone it wishes to interview out of Iraq, along with his or her family

This one is interesting, have they people targeted that may be willing to talk - Don't know, can't tell - but it is interesting.

· Any false information provided by Iraq or any failure to comply with the resolution would automatically entitle member states to use all necessary means to restore international peace

Hmmm? On the face of it this shouldn't worry the Iraqi's - As they've told us they don't have anything. The verbage "all necessary means to restore international peace" seems a bit OTT. International peace has not yet been interrupted. It would have made more sense to state, "all necessary means to ensure total compliance with UNSC Resolutions". Maybe that is the bargaining point that will be negotiated down. It certainly appears in terms of language to be the most strident.

Hi Amos,

Thought theonion.com link was a gas - very funny - really.