British intelligence or Iraqi intelligence: Which do you
trust?
The answer to that question has significant implications for the
United States because if we believe the British, war is in our
future.
Given the Iraqi regime’s history of lies, mass murder and
more lies, the prudent policy is to back the Brits. So when British
Prime Minister Tony Blair cites evidence indicating Saddam’s
weapons of mass destruction program is “active, detailed and
growing,” the international community should not doubt the
veracity of Blair’s case for disarmament.
The groundwork was laid in a speech delivered before Parliament
on Tuesday, in which Blair provided striking evidence that Saddam
Hussein is continuing to expand his stockpiles of chemical and
biological weapons, in addition to doggedly pursuing nuclear
capabilities. According to Blair and the British Joint Intelligence
Committee, there has been an “11 year history of lies told by
Saddam about his existence of his chemical, biological and nuclear
weapons programs. The one common consistent theme, however: The
total determination of Saddam to maintain the programs.”
The British findings were nothing short of a smoking gun.
According to British intelligence, the Iraqi regime has tried to
acquire “significant quantities” of uranium from Africa
““ a material with no use in Iraq except as material to
construct a nuclear weapon. Since the departure of U.N. inspectors
in 1998, Saddam has “bought or attempted to buy specialized
vacuum pumps of the needed design for the gas centrifuge cascade to
enrich uranium.” Once again, there is no civil program that
would require such instruments. The British Joint Intelligence
Committee concludes that if left to its own devices, Iraq may only
be “one or two years off from building a nuclear
weapon.”
In addition to a burgeoning nuclear weapons program, Blair also
cited evidence of Iraq’s menacing chemical and biological
weapons capabilities. According to the British Joint Intelligence
Committee, Iraq has retained many pre-Gulf War weapons stocks in
addition to producing new chemical and biological weapons by
reabsorbing pre-Gulf War scientists. Blair indicates these weapons
could be activated within 45 minutes of a launch order.
Of course Iraqi officials deny the charges. Culture Minister
Hamed Yousif Hummadi, speaking at a news conference, argued that
“Mr. Blair is acting as part of a Zionist campaign against
Iraq … all of his claims are baseless.” He goes on to
suggest the Iraqi regime is seeking anthrax, uranium and nuclear
vacuum pumps solely for “legitimate purposes.” There is
no word, however, on what those purposes are or what Iraqi
officials consider “legitimate purposes.”
While this may be all the convincing other Arab nations need,
the rest of the international community would be reckless to
disregard Britain’s findings. As Blair shrewdly stated in his
speech, “there is no way [Saddam], in this region above all
regions, could not begin a conflict using his weapons and not
engulf the world.”
If the United Nations cares to keep its credibility intact, it
must recognize the clear and present danger of Iraq, as well as the
necessity of Iraqi disarmament. It must hold accountable a regime
that has treated U.N. resolutions with nearly as much disdain as
its own people for a decade.
While Blair and President Bush could certainly force Iraq to
comply with unfettered inspections and disarmament bilaterally,
they are giving the United Nations a chance to carry the big stick
““ to bolster its own legitimacy by doing the right thing.
They ask only that the United Nations trust their intelligence and
not the utterings coming from Baghdad.
With Iraq’s track record, this should be self-evident. But
the United Nations has caved to Saddam before, and it may well cave
again. If such a circumstance arises, there is little doubt the
United States along with Britain will use necessary force to ensure
disarmament, regardless of the U.N. position.
As Blair and Bush have both stated, diplomacy not backed by
force will never work with a dictator. These men understand that
Saddam cannot be trusted. Let’s hope that on the heels of
Blair’s speech, the United Nations also gets the picture.