Scott Rittet (weaponsinspector) on Iraq
Reseda - 15.11.2002 13:11
Summary of Scott Ritter's talks on Iraq, Insight in America's strategy to justifie war.
Scott Ritter
Former (1991-1998) chief U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq
13/11/2002
1. The weapons inspections were very effective (unlike what many people
think), the inspectors were very good. 90 to 95 % of Iraq's weapons of
mass destructions and of the infrastructure for producing them were
destroyed (verified) during his time there, 1991-1998. War was basically
prevented during that period. In 1998 the inspectors were recalled by the
U.S. Government (unlike what many people think), because it wanted to
start bombing Iraq.
2. The resolution which was accepted yesterday does hardly alleviate the
situation, although many people think so. It has set out a specific
timeline: the Iraqi's have to come up with a complete declaration of their
weapons of mass destruction within a month (Dec 8). Iraq already has said
that it has no such weapons. Bush etc have said that they know that Iraq
has them. This means that the declaration will most likely be declared
false. Then the procedure is that the US goes to the UN security council,
and it can declare war according to the resolution ("serious
consequences"). The date of Dec 8 is because the US have a narrow time
window in which they can conduct war (Dec-Mar). This is mainly because of
the presence of four U.S. aircraft carriers in the Gulf. The U.N. Security
Council will hardly have any ground to object anymore, but the U.S. will
act unilaterally even if the SC does not aghree.
3. If Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, the best way to find out is to
invade. Iraq will then have every right to use them.
4. Iraq may even appeal to the Security Council itself, saying that it has
been invaded by a foreign country, an obvious breach of international law.
5. Why Iraq? Ritter thinks it is not mainly about oil. The Iraq government
have offered a guaranteed oil deal to the U.S., oil for
investments. Economcially this would really be the easiest way to
go. Destroying the infrastructure and rebuilding it is much more
expensive. Oil plays a role, but the leading issue is an ideological one.
6. Compared to e.g. North Korea, Iraq is an easy target. Saddam Hussein
has been structurally demonised over many years, and the American public
has been indoctrinated. It is now full of fear and anger, and therefore
supports the war.
7. With the resolution as it is, weapons inspectors do not get any chance.
He thinks that is a shame. The U.S. Government has no interest in letting
weapons inspections succeed. If indeed the weapons are tracked down, and
destroyed, and Iraq collaborates, it will become part of the international
community again, and Saddam Hussein will stay in power. The U.S. only
program is to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
8. There is no good evidence that Iraq indeed has weapons of mass
destructions, so there is no solid ground for war. There is no proven link
between Iraq and Al-Qaeda either. Bush keeps saying that there is
evidence, but he does not mention any data. OK, maybe this is
confidential. But for such information, there are the Congress overview
committees. Ritter knows these people, and they tell him they have not
seen any proofs. Bush is intimidating Congress by brutally proclaiming
that any opposition is antipatriotic or obstruction. Dialogue and debate
are being cut off. Basically, Ritter says, the U.S. is now a dictatorship.
9. War would take thousands of lives. War would be a great
incentive for the Arab world to hate the U.S. for decades to
come. Going to war against Iraq means losing the war on terror.
10. Instead, diplomacy would work. Sending a good diplomatic delegation
will solve things within a matter of weeks. But the U.S. has dismissed
that possibility by comparing Saddam Hussein with Adolf Hitler etc.
11. In the long run, the stupid way is to attack all potentially dangerous
nations, as the U.S. is planning to do. To eradicate terrorism, you need
to attack the roots. People hate the U.S., and partially rightfully so.
The U.S. is stealing the resources and abusing people of other countries,
and is depriving people in those countries from the possibility for a good
existence. It has been calculated that an equal division would be 5 acres
of land with resources per human being, but the U.S. consumes 25 acres per
person. It is imperialism, and it will not stop.
12. Ritter has done a lot since he resigned as a weapons inspector (which
he did because the U.S. was obstructing the fact-finding). He actually
went to Iraq in September, to address the Iraqi Parliament, to speak with
ministers, and convince them to allow weapons inspectors in. He also made
a documentary about Iraq, because he felt the U.S. media were portraying
the issue completely faultily.
13. Thousands of children die every month in Iraq because of the economic
sanctions. He has seen this himself over there. The American government,
and thus the American people, are killing these children. The economic
sanctions must be lifted immediately.
His book "Endgame: Solving the Iraq Crisis":
 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743247728/qid=1037296623/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-0143393-9282234?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
(excellent reviews)
A report of the talk:
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206%257E22097%257E989883,00.html
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