Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[seabass]

>>>Hans Blix, knowing the importance of his words and being opposed to the invasion, nonetheless reported to the U.N. that Saddam was NOT in compliance<<<


Too bad the morons running the country read his report the same way you did. Every slightest suggestion of non-compliance was turned into a prime-time speech by Bush on why war was the only hope while one clue after another of a massive intelligence failure were ignored and kept from the public.


"HANS BLIX, Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), said that since UNMOVIC’s twelfth quarterly report had been finalized 10 days ago, a number of relevant events had taken place. Since 27 November 2002, when inspections in Iraq had resumed, relatively few difficulties had been faced relating to process, notably, prompt access to sites. That might well be due to the strong outside pressure. Some practical matters had been resolved at meetings in Baghdad. Initial difficulties raised by the Iraqi side about helicopters and aerial surveillance planes operating in the no-fly zones had been overcome. Inspectors were now able to perform professional no-notice inspections all over Iraq and to increase aerial surveillance.

Intelligence authorities had claimed that weapons of mass destruction were moved around Iraq and that there were mobile production units for biological weapons. No evidence of proscribed activities had been found so far. Iraq was expected to assist in the development of credible ways to conduct random checks of ground transportation. Inspections are continuing in the area of Iraq’s programme for Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs). Inspection teams had examined building structures for any possible underground facilities and penetrating radar equipment had been used. No underground facilities for chemical or biological production or storage had been found so far.

In conclusion, he said that, while cooperation could and was to be immediate, disarmament and its verification could not be instant. Even with a proactive Iraqi attitude, induced by continued outside pressure, it would still take some time to verify sites and items, analyse documents, interview relevant persons, and draw conclusions. That would not take years, or weeks, but months. In accordance with the governing resolutions, a sustained inspection and monitoring system were to remain in place after verified disarmament to give confidence and to strike an alarm if signs were seen of the revival of any proscribed weapons programme."

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sc7682.doc.htm


You think maybe Blix was opposed to the invasion because he had good reason to believe Iraq was not a threat? Like arch conservative Bob Novak?


"NOVAK: I said several times on this network that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

BLITZER: How did you know that and the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States were convinced that there were?

NOVAK: Because my sources. I don’t run my own CIA. My sources didn’t think there were — in the military, people I trusted. And the indication of the inspectors indicated there was no weapons."

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/23/novak-had-better-sources-than-bush-on-iraq/