[Rhodes22-list] Arms Inspector response to GWB SOTU Address
bberner@optonline.net
bberner@optonline.net
Thu, 30 Jan 2003 17:35:36 -0500
Paul-
For me it's about giving the the inspectors the time they say they
need.
In Baradi's (sp?) case, he says he needs a couple of months for
definitive answers.
It doesn't seem unreasonable to me to wait that long. From a
cynical/opportunistic/pragmatic standpoint I think it also makes
sense, because if he comes back and says, "yes we have the proof that
Iraq has a nuclear weapons program", than it takes a lot of heat off
the US in the international community, the UN or other countries would
have to join in on the then certain war, shouldering some of the costs
in hard currency and men. & not just the costs of the war, but the
big costs, responsibilities, and accountability down the road of
rebuilding Iraq and trying to promote a democratic society there.
Going that alone is just as frightening as the war itself, if not
more.
BB
Bill Berner
v: 914.478.2896
f: 914.478.3856
e: BBerner@optonline.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Grandholm <paul@mi.chtechnology.com>
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2003 5:18 pm
Subject: Re: re: [Rhodes22-list] Arms Inspector response to GWB SOTU
Address
> Bill,
>
> I don't think we're too far apart on this issue. However, if
> Iraq
> continues to take the approach that it's our responsibility to
> find
> something they have probably tried very hard to hide, rather than
> taking
> the responsibility upon themselves to cooperate fully, what is
> being
> accomplished?
>
> Paul
> >
> > Paul -
> >
> > The point is not to show me the evidence, assuming it exists,
> show it
> > to the inspectors who have been charged with finging out what
> > capabilities Iraq has.
> >
> > If the inspectors were to prove that Hussein has nukes or is
> actively> pursuing them, the US would not be finding itself in
> nearly as
> > difficult a stiuation with the other permanent members of the
> Security> Council.
> > Bill Berner
> > v: 914.478.2896
> > f: 914.478.3856
> > e: BBerner@optonline.net
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > From: Paul Grandholm <paul@mi.chtechnology.com>
> >
> > Date: Thursday, January 30, 2003 3:18 pm
> >
> > Subject: re: [Rhodes22-list] Arms Inspector response to GWB SOTU
> > Address
> >
> > > 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
> > > >_________________________________________________
> > > >Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ========================
> > > Paul Grandholm
> > > C&H Technology
> > > GrandPower Components Div.
> > > ========================
> > > _________________________________________________
> > > Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> >_________________________________________________
> >Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>
>
> ========================
> Paul Grandholm
> C&H Technology
> GrandPower Components Div.
> ========================
> _________________________________________________
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>