This Just In: Iraq Concedes to Inspections...

[Chris 62]

That is a giant Own Goal, around here, anti-Bush is the way, doesn't matter who the opposition is.

[JCG]

Saddam just wants a little time to finish one of his secret projects or two...

[MarkG]

Iraq OKs Inspectors; U.S. Skeptical
Tue Sep 17,12:47 PM ET

By DAFNA LINZER, Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Under the threat of U.S. military action and pressure from Arab states, Iraq has agreed to admit U.N. weapons inspectors without conditions

....

"I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Government of the Republic of Iraq to allow the return of the United Nations ( news - web sites) weapons inspectors to Iraq without conditions," said a letter signed by Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri and delivered to Annan late Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&ncid=716&e=2&u=/ap/20020917/ap_on_re_mi_ea/un_iraq

were are those conditions??

[MarkG]

cnn

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.N. weapons inspectors say they're ready to go back into Iraq immediately -- now that Baghdad says it will allow them to return "without condition."

http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/09/17/iraq.un/index.html

do we have a :idonthavealinkbuthereswhatithinkiheard: smiley?

[walruskkkch]

It's a story from the Evening standard News London. Today. Arab league spokesman haave clarified Iraq's position to not include any non military sites so as to speed up the inspections.

[Ming]

Originally posted by walruskkkch
Arab league spokesman haave clarified Iraq's position to not include any non military sites so as to speed up the inspections.

Speed up the inspections...

[GePap]

Touche for MarkG!

Already the Russians said that they welcomed the Iraqi move, and the French continue to insist on two resolutions, not one, the first that would ask for Iraq toi let them back in, and then a later one, if the offer was denied, to spell out the world reaction. NOw that Iraq gave in the letter, I fail to see why the French would give in to the US. Also, the Arab league probably had a hand in writting the letter, so I fail to see that it will have anything immidiate that will bring suspicion form those undecided states (US,UK response immaterial, since they want war anyway)

[walruskkkch]

Here is the link to the story.

[MarkG]

Arab league spokesman = official Iraqi position???

[walruskkkch]

It was the guy who brokered the deal to begin with. Alright I will concede it's not the "Official" position, but it will be the one that Saddam will follow through on in his attempt to distract the UN and try to save his weapons programs.

[Chris 62]

Can't find what walrus said, but this is interesting:

Only after the satisfactory conclusion of these talks would inspectors and their back-up staff start moving in to Baghdad, he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2263162.stm

Which is basically another attempt to stall and place conditions on the inspectors.

[DinoDoc]

Ali Muhsen Hamid claimed Iraq was being sincere, but he stipulated that civilian sites would not be available to the inspectors. "We support anywhere, any military site (for inspections), but not as some people have suggested for inspections against hospitals, against schools."

http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/...text_id=671535

[walruskkkch]

It is a link to the front page, can't figure out why it didn't go to the direct story. The Story is the "war with Iraq" link.

[GePap]

From NYTimes:

U.S. officials least impressed with Saddam's offer of renewed inspections are those most convinced that inspections are not the answer.

I may say the same applies to many posters.

As I said, the Arab league helped writte this letter since they don't wan't war in Iraq, so no one should be surprised if the Aab league helps 'explain' the Iraqi position. I also fail to see what pressure Bush will bring to bare on Russia or France now: the Russians have gone as far as to say that no new resoltuions are even necessary, since they already have ones from 1999 and Iraq just said yes. This war wil still go on, its been decided already (Administration denials aside), but the UN route has just been made much harder. I don't know the outcome, but it won't be what the admin wanted: this is what they get for playing the 'we care for the UN' game. Come on, this admin would repeal the UN if they could.

[Chris 62]

Here is the letter Iraq sent to the UN, with more stalls:

To this end, the Government of the Republic of Iraq is ready to discuss the practical arrangements necessary for the immediate resumption of inspections.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2263455.stm

Does anybody outside of the silly anti-US crowd believe these bozos?