Word: blix
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...France, Germany, Russia and China are backing a counter proposal to give inspectors more time to pursue peaceful disarmament. Bad-tempered behind-closed-doors exchanges in the Council had yielded little progress, and much had hinged on this weekend's report from chief inspector Dr. Hans Blix. The Blix report notes Iraq's compliance with its disarmament obligations had been "very limited." Commenting on recent signs of progress, he adds, "It is hard to understand why a number of measures which are now being taken, could not have been initiated earlier." But Blix on Friday welcomed the missile announcement, citing...
...Should he accede to Blix's demand, Saddam might also try to make political capital by appealing, particularly to Arab states, for protection against an invasion in exchange for doing the inspector's bidding. Perhaps mindful of the danger that Iraq could make diplomatic capital out of complying on the al-Samouds, President Bush warned over the weekend that the missiles were simply the "tip of the iceberg" of Iraqi non-compliance. Nonetheless, by taking a hit on his missile program, Saddam would certainly make things easier for those on the Security Council counseling further inspections rather than...
...Iraq has not attempted to hide the capabilities of the al-Samoud 2 from the inspectors. Indeed, the information upon which Dr. Blix has based his demand that the missiles be destroyed was initially provided by the Iraqis themselves. While Saddam is unlikely to welcome the prospect of having to get rid of anything his forces could use against an invading army, Blix's demand does offer the Iraqi dictator an opportunity...
...seek a second UN resolution before going to war. Unable to secure passage of a resolution authorizing the use of force right now, the U.S. and Britain have opted instead for a resolution that simply finds Iraq in "material breach" of Resolution 1441 - based in part on Dr. Blix's Feb. 14 report back to the Security Council - and notes that Baghdad has "failed to take the final opportunity" for peaceful disarmament. But the antiwar camp at the Security Council are acutely aware that such language would likely be taken as a trigger for the "serious consequences" mentioned in Resolution...
...With Blix due to report back again on or soon after March 1 - in the middle of the two weeks of debate on the new resolution envisaged by Britain and the U.S. - the al-Samoud 2 test therefore becomes a crucial indicator. If Blix tells the Council that Iraq is refusing to destroy a prohibited weapon, that may put the kibosh on calls to give the inspection process more time. But an Iraqi decision to destroy the missiles under UN supervision could have the reverse effect, providing more ammunition for France, Germany and Russia to argue that inspections be given...