UN monitors kick-off 2003 Iraq inspections

UN arms inspectors hunting for evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq today kicked off 2003 with visits to a missile maintenance facility and a truck repair workshop.

Al-Harith facility 28 miles north of Baghdad does maintenance work on SA-2, SA-3 and SA-6 anti-aircraft missile systems and has been visited before by the inspectors. It was the international monitors’ first visit to the al-Magd truck repair company.

Since resuming work after four years, the experts have not had any serious problems gaining access to suspected Iraqi weapons sites, but this has apparently done little to dispel suspicions in Iraq that war is coming anyway.

A front page editorial today in Iraq’s official al-Jumhuriya newspaper contained what has by now become the usual dose of fiery rhetoric, saying Iraqis were ready to confront “with strong resolution the American aggressive threats against Iraq.

“They (Iraqis) are full with the certain hope of defeating any unjust aggression that might be launched by the bullies of the US administration against our country.”

Speaking yesterday at his Texas ranch, US President George Bush warned that, although his administration had not decided whether to wage war against Iraq, Saddam may be headed towards conflict with the US.

He also suggested that the economic cost of going to war to eliminate Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction is better than risking an attack from them.

“Any attack of Saddam Hussein or a surrogate of Saddam Hussein would cripple our economy,” Bush said. “This economy cannot afford to stand an attack.”

Bush also repeated criticism of Iraq’s first attempt to comply with the latest UN arms resolution – a declaration of the status of his weapons program – saying it “was disappointing”.

UN and US officials have said that the 12,000-page report submitted last month was largely a rehash of earlier declarations and left many questions unanswered.

“Thus far, it appears at first look that Saddam Hussein has not heard the message,” Bush said.