So far the Bush bluff has got the inspectors back into Iraq with the unanimous backing of the UNSC.

So far the Bush bluff has suceeded in securing the co-operation of the Iraqi Authorities to an unprecedented level, albeit with the reservations highlighted by Dr. Blix & Dr. AlBaredi (Note they are Blix's and Baredi's reservations not those of America or of the UK)

Reading what was in Hans Blix's report:
183 Rocket Motors that have been shipped to Iraq post 1991. Now they shouldn't be there, should they? Especially if Iraq was complying with the agreements they made after Desert Storm.

The high specification aluminium tubing, still under evaluation with regard to ultimate end useage - although Hans Blix himself is of the opinion that they are not related to centrifuges that could be used in the manufacture of weapons grade material. But once again they have been imported into Iraq post 1991 and they should not be there.

"All the allegations about sites on the ground identified in Tiny Blair's dossier have been shown to be completely unjustified."

That statement is simply Not True:

The UNMOVIC Inspectors have documentation relating to Iraq's missile programme that put it in non-compliance with UN Resolutions (Continued development of Al-Samoud II & Al-Fatah missiles). Indications of suspected Iraqi activity in this field were specifically mentioned in the Dossier that Tony Blair presented to the House of Commons. Hans Blix made specific mention of this proscribed programme in his report, he mentioned the more powerful motors and Iraqi technical papers that showed work towards development of those weapons with an increased diameter - indicative of an operational requirement for longer range or greater payload.


"...are the estimates of the amount of various weapons materials which were at one time said to be in existence correct, and how is it possible to verify the claims which have been made by the Iraqis that these have been destroyed."

The Iraqi documentation from the source of supply clearly states the quantity made and the number of rounds, bombs, rockets made. Iraqi documentation from their military clearly states the amount of this ordanence used. Iraqi and UNSCOM documentation details the amount subject to controlled and verifiable disposal. Taking those three sets of figures there is a shortfall - It is the responsibility of the Iraqi Government to explain exactly what has happened to this inventory - It is not the responsibility of the UNMOVIC Inspections Teams to find it, their responsibility ends with identifying that the discrepency exists.

"(Past claims by the Iraqis about the size of their stocks of weapons and so forth, which could well have been exaggerated by them for propaganda reasons, are for some reason now accepted without question.)"

Why would the Iraqis exaggerate the size of their stocks of weapons in "Secret" and "Confidential" papers? After all these would not, by intention, be in the public domain. An ordinance factory does not make 300 of something and supply paperwork for 600 - somebody in charge of a weapons storage depot has to take charge of this shipment, somebody has to organise and supply transport to get it from A to B. While only too willing to provide Saddam with a pretty lame excuse to explain the shortfall, can you honestly without the slightest doubt in your mind these things do not exist?

Hans Blix has stated that the flow of information from intelligence sources has been forthcoming and has produced results.

"Whatever the Iraqis may be doing, it seems pretty clear that the work of the inspectors has been consistently obstructed by our governments."

Specific documented examples of this consistant obstruction please Kevin - Neither Hans Blix nor Dr. AlBaredi made any reference to it in their respective reports.

Hans Blix stated that the Iraqi Declaration of December 7th was not a true and accurate account - The Iraqis knew full well that it had to be under the terms of UNSCR 1441 - They have been given a chance to revise that document.

Quite a few in this forum obviously are willing to take at face value Iraq's contention that they have no weapons of mass destruction - what then is their objection to the U2 flights, they have after all have nothing to hide - correct???

Oh yes the electoral schedule - utterly preposterous. So far not one single prediction from the gloom and doom brigade has come to pass.