[Rhodes22-list] Arms Inspector response to GWB SOTU Address

[Paul Grandholm]

Bill,

     I don't know that any of us know for sure.  As a free society, we've 
gotten used to the idea that we have the right to know everything about 
everything.  However, I think there are some things that the public just 
may not have the right to know, especially if it could compromise our 
position.  (Like the old spy joke:  "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to 
kill you.")  Having said that, from what we do know, I'm inclined to 
agree with you.  My guess is that Iraq has thus far probably been unable 
to attain or build nuclear weapons.  Not necessarily from lack of trying, 
just from lack of success.  I also believe Saddam will keep trying until 
he does.

     Keep in mind that Mohamed ElBaradei in only one third of the 
component.  Hans Blix heads the inspectors looking for Chemical & 
Biological material, representing the other two thirds.  We know they 
have that capability because they have used them in the past, even on 
their own people.  The last group of inspectors documented them.  Now 
we're supposed to believe that, poof, they're gone without a trace or 
that they never existed.

     "W" put it short & sweet when he was in our fair state yesterday:  
"In my judgment, you don't contain Saddam Hussein.  You don't hope that 
therapy will somehow change his evil mind.  The risks of doing nothing, 
the risk of assuming the best from Saddam Hussein, is just not a risk 
worth taking."

Paul  
>
>   I heard Mohammed al Barady, director of the  International Atomic
>   Energy Institute (I may be dlightly off on the name of the agency),
>   and head of the inspection team on Iraqs nuclear weapons program
>   interviewed last night.
>
>   He had a couple of comments on things that GWB said about Iraq's
>   nuclear weapons program, I found intstructive.
>
>   First, he said that while it is possible that the aluminum tubes that
>   Saddam imported, and Bush cited as evidence of a nuclear weapons
>   program, could be used for that purpose, it is extremely unlikely, as
>   they would require extensive modifications.  The more likely, and
>   amittedly only somewhat less distrubing, use is for building
>   conventional missiles.
>
>   Second, responding to Bush's statement that the US
>   possesses intelligence that proves Hussein has purchased enriched
>   uranium, al Barady (again remember he is working for the UN
>   determining whether Iraq has or is developing nukes) said that despite
>   numerous requests to examine that intelligence over the last 2 months,
>   it has not been produced.  In my mind, and his implication seems to
>   be, that the intelligence may not actually exist or wouldn't stand up
>   to scrutiny.  Maybe Powell will shed some light on this when he speaks
>   to the Security Council next week.
>
>   Now this is not to say that Mohammed al Barady believes that Iraq
>   doesn't have a nuke program.  He only says that there is no proof at
>   this point.  He did say that he believes that permitted to continue
>   inspections for another couple of months his team could determine with
>   certainty whether such a program exists or not.
>
>   BB
>   Bill Berner
>   v: 914.478.2896
>   f: 914.478.3856
>   e: BBerner@optonline.net
>_________________________________________________
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Paul Grandholm
C&H Technology
GrandPower Components Div.
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