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"Weapons Inspectors"

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

18:48 / 05.12.02

Iraq has, apparently unreasonably, described the UN weapons inspectors as spies. And apparently they're wrong to do so. Hmmm.

While I think weapons inspection is a GOOD thing, I also feel that going into a foreign territory (especially one declared an enemy) with the express intention of checking out their armoury, is quite blatantly spying.

I don't get the difference. If we called 'em "planespotters" would that work?"

zarathustra_k

00:38 / 06.12.02

I am not sure where you got this from, was it said currently?
Here is some stuff that I know. Last time the weapons inspectors were in Iraq, they were finding and destroying weapons and stuff that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction. They destroyed more than were destroyed during the Gulf War. While they were doing this there were spy’s collecting information and relaying it to the United States. The weapons inspectors were only to find and destroy weapons dual use stuff. When Iraq figured out that there were "moles" for the United States with the weapons inspectors they threw them out, which I believe is understandable.
Are weapon inspections and spying the same, I would say yes and no.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

21:22 / 06.12.02

Robert Fisk's words of pessimism

w1rebaby

23:18 / 06.12.02

While they were doing this there were spy’s collecting information and relaying it to the United States.

And US allies, i.e. Israel. It was admitted. You'd be pushed to find it in the popular mythology, though. According to the media, Iraq just expelled the inspectors... nothing to do with them being withdrawn due to increased bombing, at all.

Clearly weapons inspectors are spies of a sort, it's just a question of where that information ends up. Do you trust the UN? Despite being cynical, I think that you can to an extent.

Personally I'd like to see weapons inspectors operating as standard in all countries. We know that the US has WMDs (cluster bombs - worse than poison gas) and is prepared to use them.

Baz Auckland

19:04 / 07.12.02

The worst yesterday was Bush declaring that the White House has definite proof that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.... but of course, wouldn't elaborate on the what the evidence was. White House spokesperson did say "If it wasn't true, the President of the United States wouldn't have said it." (sigh)

Isn't that what they did with Afghanistan? "We have evidence, no, we won't tell you what it is. Trust us."

zarathustra_k

20:13 / 07.12.02

Yet, where the hell is the media? They are the ones that are supposed to be independent and biting. Liberal indeed! This seems to happen whenever the United States is about to go to war. The media just sit back and what ever comes out from the White House is just parlayed into the papers without any real serious questions or discussion. This is a serious problem, for the media is incredibly vital to a free, open, and democratic society.
Here I am trying not to be cynical too.

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